4TH Sunday of Lent

"But whoever lives the truth comes to the light." Think about the sun for a moment. The light from this gigantic celestial orb provides so many things for us. Most obviously, it provides brightness by which we see, by which we work, play, and navigate the world around us. It also provides the warmth necessary for our comfort and our survival. The sun sustains plant life, which in turn sustains our lives as well. It helps us mark the passing of time, the change of seasons, and the rhythm of every day. The sun is a tremendous gift from God, and our lives, just like our planet, quite literally revolve around it.

When Jesus uses the image of light in today's Gospel, it may help us to understand him if we think of the sun. Just as this magnificent star nourishes our physical existence, so too Jesus, "the light [who] came into the world," nourishes our spiritual existence. He gives us the "brightness" to see the right choices in front of us through his teaching and his example. He warms our hearts through his mercy and forgiveness, changing our coldhearted sinfulness into burning charity. He sustains our spiritual lives by offering us the gift of salvation: eternal life in heaven that never sees death. And he helps us mark the passing of time as we grow ever closer to him, entering more and more deeply into the knowledge and love of our Lord.

But of course, just as we are free to hide in a dark room with the shades drawn, so too we are free to "shade" ourselves from the light of Christ: "for everyone who does wicked things hates the light." To choose wickedness is to cut ourselves off not just from light, but from life. May we choose instead to stay always in the light of the Son.

#lent #reflections