The Holy Gospel according to John 8:12-20
Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have
the light of life.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You testify
on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified.”
Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I do testify
on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified,
because I know where I came from and where I am going.
But you do not know where I come from or where I am going.
You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone.
And even if I should judge, my judgement is valid,
because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father
who sent me. Even in your law it is written
that the testimony of two men can be verified.
I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me.”
So they said to him, “Where is your father?” Jesus answered,
“You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me,
you would know my Father also.” He spoke these words
while teaching in the treasury in the temple area.
But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.
Reflection:
This Gospel is about us always looking for that light and trusting it. There is no doubt that we face some darkness every now and then. So, the question becomes, how do we handle this darkness?
Let me give a real example. I remember my father always took the family camping and if wasn’t the family then it was the Boy Scout troop. I recall one Boy Scout camping trip and part of the agenda was to go on a Night Hike. Now if you have ever been in the wilderness at night, it can get pretty dark. I remember there was some fear and trepidation, but I had to be cool and calm. I feared not the darkness but what lived in it (bears, cougars, snakes, big foot, el Cui Cui etc). OK don’t judge … I was just 11 years old! Deep down I knew I was safe because my dad was there. So, the time came after dinner and clean up and there we go hiking up the mountain with our flashlights. After a while, it was actually pretty cool, and everything was fine. Then, upon our return back to camp, my father told us to shut off our lights and we are going to head down the mountain trail with no flashlights. WAIT … WHAT?! My father said that tonight is a full moon, and we don’t need light when there’s a full moon. Just allow our eyes to adjust and let the moon be your light. There will be plenty of light to hike back. Well, the Pharisee in me didn’t believe that was true, in fact the other scouts (pharisees) challenged my father. So, some of us scouts did as we were told. We trusted in our leader. But there were some who didn’t and would turn on their flashlights because they didn’t trust our leader.
That is what todays scripture is saying to us. We need to trust in our faith and allow our eyes to readjust to the light that has always been there for our sake. Jesus invites us to follow him because He is the very light source of our lives. Especially during the dark days. It is obvious that this light is not just a physical presence, but a source of spiritual understanding of our faith. It is the light that reveals God’s truth and purpose for our lives and what drives us into spiritual contentment.
Let us strive to live in the light of Jesus, allowing his teachings and example to guide our actions and shape our hearts. May we be inspirations of hope and love and be that light for someone that needs it. Allow us to be that Full Moon for the journey of others.
Action of the Day: As we listen to these words, let us reflect on our own lives and how we seek light. Do we cling to the shadows of fear, doubt, and sin? Or do we reach out to Jesus, the light of the world, for guidance and truth?
Audio Reflection:
