Darkness and Light

Darkness and Light

God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭1:5‬ ‭NCV‬

Moses asked to see God’s glory, the Lord answered that no one can look upon His face and live (Exodus 33:18-20). Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was blinded by a light from heaven that flashed all around him (Acts 9:1-18).  Have you ever tried gazing at the sun directly for any duration of time? Our eyes are very sensitive organs, and prolonged exposure to sunlight can lead to cataract or even blindness. The brightest light we have ever seen is sunlight. Yet just as we need the sun to live productive lives, we need to bask in God’s goodness and mercy, to grow in faith and live fruitful lives. Light brings out the beauty of people and all things bright and beautiful we see around us. Paul says in Ephesians 5:14, “For it is light that makes everything visible.” So also God’s light brings growth and fruit in our spiritual lives.

The darkest place I have ever been to are the underground limestone caves, where you get to see beautiful formations of stalagmites and stalactites. As we descend into these caves, sunlight gets cut off, complete darkness plummets the caves, our minds start to play frightening tricks on us. We stick as close as possible to the guide who is taking us to see the beauty of these caves, because we fear one step in the wrong direction could lead us into a maze that could disorient us in the soggy and pitch dark corridors of the cave. Most normal humans fear the underground and getting lost in absolute darkness, cut off from the guidance of the sun, moon and stars. So it is in our walk of faith when we descend into the darkness of doubts, distrust, suspicion, and lack of confidence in God, there is no way for God's light to come into our lives.  

What do we do when our doubts overshadow our faith in God? Where do we turn when the dimness of our imperfections or our understanding of God is eclipsed in darkness? In the Gospel of  Mark 9:14-29, Jesus heals a demon possessed child. His disciples tried hard to heal the child. But were fruitless and failed. 

Eventually the Father begs Jesus to heal the child if he can. To which he said, “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark‬ ‭9:23-24‬). In the father's eyes he saw his child who had lived in the clutches of darkness mentally, emotionally and physically, mangled by demonic forces tearing his life apart. Yet when Jesus asked him if he believed, all he could say was, yes I do believe, but Lord forgive my unbelief that has blinded me all these years.

This prayer of the father stands even today as a prayer when we are overwhelmed with doubts to say and meditate on. “Lord I believe, help me overcome my unbelief.” It is amazing how, later Jesus told his disciples the reason why they couldn’t heal the child was, “This kind can come out only by prayer” (Mark‬ ‭9:29‬). Jesus is the light of the world, the very image of God in human form, in whom there is no darkness at all. Yet Jesus lived in daily prayer and fellowship with God the Father. 

What is faith and how do we build trust and confidence in God? Faith is the substance of things we hope for, and the evidence of things not seen. It is impossible to see the goodness and mercy of God unless we believe that he exists (Hebrews 11:1-6). What do we do when our doubts overshadow our faith in God? We turn our eyes from the darkness of our doubts and gaze into the light of God’s glory. Just like the sun rises every day, so should we faithfully pray everyday, turning our eyes from the darkness of our slumber and opening our eyes of faith to see the glory of God. Let the rays of Faith shine into our hearts and minds lighting them up and bringing healing to all our doubts and fears. God will guide us through the ever winding roads of our lives, drawing us closer and closer to his very presence. The Darkness of Doubt make way for the Rays of Faith to build powerful trust in God. We say to ourselves with confidence and meditate on the words of Jesus to the struggling Father, “Everything is possible for one who believes.”and in response we also say, “Lord I believe, help my unbelief.”

Let us walk in the light of the LORD. Isaiah 2:5

Everlasting Light

Your sun shall no more go down, 

Nor your moon withdraw itself; 

For the LORD will be your Everlasting Light, 

And your Days of Mourning shall be ended. 

Isaiah 60:20

As we look to day of the Lord’s coming Isaiah says on that day the sun will no longer be our light by day but the Lord will be our everlasting light. St. John in Revelation (Rev 21:23) says the glory of the light of our Lord will be the everlasting light of the New Jerusalem. The old order of creation yields to the new (2 Corinthians 5:17) says St. Paul as we are united with Christ by faith and baptism but on that day we will be totally changed in all ways to be in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.

There shall be no more mourning St John prophesies in Revelation (Rev 21:4) because on that day as Isaiah prophesies death will be swallowed up (Isaiah 25:8) and Christ will dwell with all the people of the world.  No longer will we sense the presence of God sometimes but we will live in the presence of God forever. The Hebrew word for “glory” is “shekhinah” which refers to a dwelling or settling of the divine presence of God among his chosen people. We will all be recreated to live in divine fellowship with Christ and his new creation with the God being our everlasting light.

Soli Deo Gloria

Blurred Vision

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore your eye be good, your whole body shall be full of light. But if your eye be evil, your whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness!

  
Matthew 6:22-23

All of us find ourselves cleaning our glasses or sunglasses from time to time. Dust and dirt particles accumulate on our glasses over time and they have to be cleaned. If we try to see through dirty glasses our vision gets blurred.

So also in our spiritual lives the eye through which we see ourselves and perceive others will depend on state of our eyes. They can get clogged with hatred, anger, prejudice, jealousy, pride, self centeredness and many other thoughts and emotions that cloud our vision and upset our judgment.

Jesus says beware of becoming like the hypocrite (Matthew6:1-6), who prays in public so that all may see how holy he is. Jesus exhorts us to be private and personal about our prayers. Beware of spiritual pride or self-righteousness. What are our motives when we pray or observe lent? Are we looking for resonating admiration from others? What do we really mean when we say, “I am a Christian?”

There may have been times in our lives when we have made poor choices or acted unwisely.  But it is what we do when we realize that we made the wrong choice that makes the difference in our lives. We live in this tension, where we do those things we should not do, when we know fully well what we should do. Is this hypocrisy or is it or human nature drawing us down? As Jesus told his disciples in Gethsemane (Matthew26:36-41) the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. 

Christ on the Mount of Olives (1604-1606) was a painting by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.

God knows the struggles of our hearts. God knows our every intention. The prophet Joel says, "return to me with fasting, weeping and mourning; Rend your heart, and not your garments" (Joel2:12-17). We should look into our hearts and genuinely ask God to forgive us. May the Holy Spirit be like a refiner's fire cleansing us from our misdeeds.

Lord Jesus we know you love us, and gave your life for us. Keep us as the apple of your eyes; hide us in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 17:8). May your Spirit encompass our lives and inspire us to do your will.

Light of the World

On Palm Sunday we celebrate the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem as King (John 12:12-19). The people hailed him as King and greeted him by waving palm branches. They had just witnessed the miraculous raising from the dead of Lazarus and were convinced that the scriptures had been fulfilled (John 11:38-43). This mighty miracle had persuaded them that Jesus had the power to redeem them from the oppression of the Roman rule. The Pharisees were flabbergasted and angrily mumbled that the whole world had gone after Jesus.

Some Greeks came to see Jesus following his ride into Jerusalem at the home of Philip (John 12:20-36). Their request was, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus." How many of us have this deep desire in our hearts? What do you see in your heart and mind when you try to imagine what Jesus looks like? Do you see Him as a light to those walking in darkness?

Jesus spoke to them by saying that unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies it will be alone. But its death will produce many kernels of wheat (John 12:24-25). This parable beautifully illustrates Christ power over death. He showed us that he had to die for us all so that we maybe raised to life in Him. Jesus went on to say that, "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor."

When Jesus prayed that God the Fathers name may be glorified, a voice thundered from heaven to the amazement of all saying, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again" (John 12:28). Jesus went on to prophesy about his death saying, "If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to me." Did they really understand that Christ was speaking of his death on the cross and his resurrection? Did they understand that Christ was prophesying about being the Savior of all the world?

They were confused and asked who Jesus was talking about because they believed that the Messiah would live forever and could not understand why Jesus was prophesying death. To which Jesus said, "You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light." Are you walking in the light or in the darkness. Do you know where you are going? Jesus is calling you to serve Him and draw close to the Light of the World.

Flame of Faith

One of the joys of family gatherings is the recollection of old memories of growing together, sharing intimacy, learning new experiences, enduring hardships, and reliving our achievements. These occasions are important for families to meet and to honor one another, and their customs and traditions. From outdoor barbeques to indoor banquets, birthday parties to graduations, baptisms to marriages, we enjoy food, wine, games, music, and dance as we celebrate. The strangest thing is that this is how people have celebrated special occasions from time immemorial. This is what brings about continuity in family and values. Is it possible to continue these customs and celebrations in today’s world of nuclear families? Is it possible to integrate the light of our faith with these celebrations of life’s experiences in an era that seems to function less and less on faith? Wise parents plan for the future of their families’ spiritual nurturing and remember that it is God who leads us all the way.

 Abraham took his faith in God very seriously. When Sarah died he realized that it was time to arrange the marriage of his son, Isaac. Abraham was convinced that he did not want his son to marry a local Canaanite girl. He entrusted the task, of finding a suitable wife from his homeland in Mesopotamia, to his most reliable and the oldest man in charge of his household, Eliezer. Do you have a friend who will stay closer to you than your own kith and kin? Eliezer had lived his entire life with Abraham and had seen his blessed relationship with Sarah through its peaks and valleys. He was one of Abraham’s most faithful and trustworthy servants. 

 Abraham wanted Isaac to have a married life similar to the one he and Sarah had enjoyed for more than a hundred years. He wanted to ensure that his son would preserve the same faith and traditions that he and Sarah had lived by all their lives. He was sure that a woman from his native land would ensure that Isaac lived according to the faith of his forefathers. It is no surprise that when Moses instructed the Israelites on living a devout life, one crucial instruction was the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). This was later ratified by Jesus who said that to love God and one’s fellow beings are the two greatest commandments (Mathew 22:37-39). 

 Abraham was confident that the same God who had blessed him with a child would provide a wife for his son. “Jehovah Jireh - God will provide “ was the name that Abraham gave to the mountain that he had taken Isaac to be sacrificed. Abraham was absolutely sure that with God as his guide, Eliezer would accomplish the search for a bride. Eliezer’s prayer to God was, “Help me accomplish the purpose of my journey. (Genesis 24:12)” Have you ever prayed a prayer that went like that? Where better to look for a wife than near the watering well, where the herds of animals come to quench their thirst? Isaac being the wealthy owner of many cattle would certainly need a wife who could manage and understand cattle rearing. 

What Eliezer was searching for was not external beauty, but an inner beauty that would tide Isaac through his valleys. Eliezer subjected the young woman to a test on hospitality and prayed that God would lead him to the right woman (Proverbs 31:30). Scarcely had he finished praying than a very beautiful girl offered to draw water for him and all his camels to drink. Unable to believe that his search was coming quickly to its end, he asked her who her father was. When he realized Rebekah was an unmarried granddaughter of Abraham’s brother, he knew that she was the one. His first response was to thank and praise God for answering his prayer. Do you remember to thank God when He answers your prayers? Later, when Eliezer asked her if she would go with him immediately, she showed the same faith that Abraham did when God called him to move away from his native place, and willingly agreed saying, “Yes, I will go.” Eliezer’s journey ended well with Isaac falling in love with Rebekah and finding comfort in her after his mother’s death. 

Spiritual leadership in a family always plays a key role. Often strong traditional families have matriarchs and patriarchs who hold them together. They are the ones who bring stability and structure to the families. Over time, sometimes tragically, the relationships of the family changes, with death, disease, dissent, distinction, distrust, disapproval, disgust, divorce, division of will, disinheritance, disaster, displacement, or debilitation. These are times when younger generations or others in the family should step in and try to bring order back into the family. When Sarah died, Abraham was too old to travel to Mesopotamia to find a wife for Isaac. Eliezer stepped up to set out on the mission. 

When old traditions are not learned and remembered they are lost over time. Families stay together when there are clear lines of communication between the members. When spiritual leaders and parents speak to children often of the need to pray together and meet at family gatherings, over time these become part of the family heritage. Who knows? Tomorrow may be your turn to take care of your sick parent because of Parkinsonism, heart attack, cancer, or stroke. What they teach us today by way of example always comes handy as we grow older. It is those memories when remembered that bring life back into their aged bodies.  St. Paul when he wrote his letter to the Thessalonians he was aware of the pressures that society places on individuals, families and churches (2 Thessalonians 2:15). The pressures towards their Christian faith and worldly values. He encourages them to stand firm on the Christian traditions they were taught. To remember the light of Christ that shines in our hearts through his teachings on the importance of faith, hope and love.

Growing up in Christian families our parents expect us to marry Christian spouses from our community. Our parents hope that in time we will adopt the faith and traditions that they have followed, to ensure that from generation to generation we will be blessed by the presence of God in our lives. Do you recall any early encounters with your parents while they nurtured you in your faith? Some common ways in which families live faithful lives are by being part of a church or Sunday school, reading the Bible together, family prayers, singing hymns and songs of praise, and above all creating an environment of love in their homes. With the families spreading out all over the world there are so many new practices and celebrations that come into the family’s life. The need to integrate the past with celebrations of the present becomes crucial for the preservation of familial bonds. St. Paul says we are all fragile clay jars containing the spirit of Christ dwelling within us (2 Corinthians 4:5-10). We tell our loved ones what Christ has done in our fragile lives and how he has empowered us to hold fast to our faith through the hills and valleys of life.

If our children grow up in an environment where bad tempers, impatience, sulking, childishness, fault finding, grumbling, and ill nature are the norm, it is very easy for us to find ourselves swamped with similar behavior from them. Is your children’s only source of entertainment from some electronic media or do you spend time together as a family? Who are their role models? If we teach them to respect God and one another, and to care for one another’s needs, we can make them a source of blessing for many. What in the old days was called austerity, chastity, and prudence are now called self-discipline, self restraint, and self-control. Are these not some of the disciplines that we must teach our children to live by? If children are not raised by God fearing parents, it is less likely that they will desire a relationship with the Lord. Do you inculcate in them a desire for the fruit or gifts of the spirit? Or do they only crave for new age electronic games, movies, or music? When we raise our children to have faith, surety, respect, and responsibility toward God and humans, we help them develop strong characters. When we shape them to lead disciplined lives, we form them into lighthouses that others can see and aspire to be. 

Our lives are like candles with a flame burning at the end of it. One day we will all burn out. Yet our flame lives on if we have other candles to burn for us when we are gone. Such is our faith in God. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world: he that follows after me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12).” The passing on of the flame of faith from generation to generation unites us with God, our spiritual ancestors, our earthly ancestors, and all the others who become a part of our family over the centuries. St. John says, “And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not (John 1:5).” We live in hope of one day being together in Christ who is the eternal light, who said, “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you (John 14:2).”

Sometimes of Spiritual Darkness

(Inspired by the works of St. John of the Cross) 

 1.     Sometimes in our spiritual walk 

         Our thoughts are filled with remorse 

         Lose all pleasure 

         In all those things we treasure 

         Beloved on simple things dote 

         Our hearts fill with divine hope 

 2.     Sometimes in our walk 

         Burdened with guilt of impure heart 

         Fear of evil temptations 

         We begin our spiritual oscillations 

         Make us pure from all that’s wicked 

         White as snow and uncorrupted 

 3.      Sometimes in our walk 

         Overcome with spiritual wrath 

         Like a little child 

         Whose toy has been denied 

         Instill in us spiritual tolerance 

         Grant us divine patience 

 4.     Sometimes in our spiritual walk 

         We forget what we have been taught 

        Look down with spiritual pride 

         On all those people we deride 

         To be gentle and humble 

         Faithful to God and all His people 

 5.      Sometimes in our walk 

         Lost in written works 

        Loss of all feelings 

         In all of our dealings 

         Not on written works and bitter discord 

         Our minds enlighten with understanding dear Lord 

 6.     Sometimes in our walk 

         We ignore all our faults 

        Indulge in spiritual gluttony 

         Prayers, penance and acts of chastity 

         Your strong words employ 

         Fill our hearts with peace and joy 

 7.     Sometimes in our walk 

         We are overcome with spiritual sloth 

        Feed off others praise 

         Our egos on a pedestal raise 

         Wash our hearts so full of dross 

         Our spiritual eye see sacrificial love on the cross 

 8.     Sometimes in our spiritual walk 

         The path is pitch dark 

        Away from the path we wander 

         We cry out loud “Heavenly Father” 

         On His chest are we comforted 

         As He leads us home our loving Shepherd

Breaking the Cycle

I remember as a child walking home after playing on the floodlit basketball court all evening. There were times when the sun had set and I had to find my way back through the darkness. The path back home was narrow and had thorn bushes on the sides. The times I found easy to pass through that path was when the moon was shinning brightly in the sky. On a moonless night I usually would be poked by one or two thorn bushes even though I knew every bush on my path back home. So it is in our lives, if we walk through our paths when everything is sunny and bright we will encounter no problems. On a moonlit night we can feed off the light from another and find our way home. But are we ready for the periods when it is pitch dark and there is no guiding light? 

 Jesus says in Mathew 12:43-45 “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” This is what Jesus said would happen to people or a generation who tried to only clean up house for a particular phase in their lives. The same evil spirit that dwelt in them would come back with more evil spirits so that they would end up in a worse state than they were before. 

 God assures us that if we confess our sins, God will forgive us. As God is light, if we live in God’s presence, our lives will be filled with light. St. John the apostle says in 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

 Just removing bad company and our idols are not enough; they have to be replaced by the Spirit of Christ. It is the Holy Spirit that will break this cycle in our lives. The Holy Spirit will help us to control our lives, instill in us love for God and help us find His purpose for our lives. St. Paul says in Galatians 5:22-23,25, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law….If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” The fruits of the spirit will fill our lives with light and there will be no room for darkness. 

 We need to look to Jesus who is our guiding light. It is He who will lead us to our heavenly home. He has set the path before us and the map has been clearly drawn. We need look to the Word of God daily for directions through reading, reflection, and prayer. It is here that we will encounter the Holy Spirit, the helper who will speak to us and strengthen us for the day. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12).

False Gods and Goddesses

The children of Israel started to serve the goddess Asherah and the god Baal and worshipped them along with their neighbors. These ceremonies often had sacred prostitution and from time to time child sacrifice. They even started to marry outside the Nation of Israel and this further diluted their faithfulness to God. Slowly but surely they began to wander away and loose faith in God. This desire to worship idols continued even during the period of 'Kings' until they went into captivity in Babylon. By the time they returned from exile they had been more or less weaned from Baal and Asherah. 

Today, do we have idols of our own that we worship? Are there any visible objects that we hold closer to us than we do God? Is there someone or something we adore excessively? How do we ensure that we stay away from worship of the powerful people who are idolized for their achievement and success today? We need to be careful that nothing, no idol, draws us away from our worship and service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

 When St. Paul was in Ephesus, he confronted the businessmen who made idols for the Greek goddess Artemis. This goddess worship started in 1000 BC and was a mixture of Roman, Anatolian, and Greek values. The businessmen started a riot in the city when they found that the sales of idols were dropping. Was not the courage of St. Paul amazing? He displayed No Fear? Do we have the courage to defy the system when we see that it is heading in the wrong direction? Many people’s feelings were affected by St. Paul’s stance on the gospel message and the true and only God. Even today for some religion is run like a regular business. The priests that serve in the temples and churches to raise funds step down and compromise on their principles. 

 Corruption is often rampant in some churches where the leaders’ lifestyles are like those of the rich and famous. They lead lives that are contrary to the life that Christ led and advocated to his disciples. God today is portrayed as a God of prosperity and wealth. A God who is worshipped to heap gold in their coffers. A God who will bless them with more talents to make more wealth. Christ said emphatically in Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 

 Are you so proud of your own achievements and unwilling to give God credit? Where does one draw the line and say 'this is enough for me'? When does one look at his hurting neighbor and say 'let me give you a part of my life to make yours a better one'? When does one say 'it is time I spent more time to know and understand the ways of God'? Do we hear the gospel message being praised? Or do we hear that God will save all? Has the grace of God been a means for many to continue their libertine lifestyles? Do you hear the voice of Christ calling you to come and serve him? 

 Christ talks about Spiritual Vision when he says in Matthew 6:22, The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. Christ really lays out a question here – when we look at our goals are they focused on God and what He wants us to do or on what we want and what the world has as reward? Christ said that He is the Light of the World and that we should be focused on Him to guide and lead us. If we are focused on Him, the single eye (single mind) will allow the light of the world (Jesus) to flood into our hearts & minds.