Guided by the Light

Today’s Gospel (Monday-4/3) starts with one of my favorite verses.  The passage from John begins with, “Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’ (John 8:12).”  The title of “Light of the World” is a powerful way to think of Jesus.  Light guides us, helps us see, and eliminates the darkness.  Jesus, who is the light of the world, illuminates the world around us, guides us, and changes everything.  It is by His light that we can see.

The world around us is filled with darkness.  Looking around, it doesn’t take long to see  violence, hatred, an attack on human life, a distortion of love into something selfish, confusion about how God created humanity, and the list goes on.  But Christ has the power to bring light into this darkness.  If we try to look at and understand life without Him, nothing makes sense and we are left in this dark and dismal mindset.  If we allow ourselves to be led by His light, we are better able to follow the path He wants us to walk, the path that leads us closer to Him.

Light is something that we crave and that we are drawn to.  Think of the sun.  When it comes to the weather, there is nothing better than a bright, sunny day, especially after long periods of cold, overcast, or rainy days.  When the weather is dreary and cloudy, we long to see the sun.  Most of us probably enjoy the warmth and brightness of the sun, as it is thought to increase the brain’s release of serotonin.  In the same way, we crave the light of Christ and are drawn to this light.  Every single person longs for the Son and the light He provides, whether they realize it or not.  Each and every one of us was created with this longing for God that no one and nothing else can satisfy.  His light reveals the truth to us and fills us with love and joy, which can then fill the world around us.
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If we stay focused on Christ, we will never have to walk in complete darkness.  Allow each day of your life to be illuminated by His light.  Because when we follow the light that shines in the darkness, we will be able to see.  We will be able to see all the goodness and beauty that surrounds us.