VOICES of Lent - Part Nine

We continue with this series of postings entitled, VOICES of Lent. We present these posts in the form, as it were, of a dialogue between the soul at prayer, and the guiding Spirit. It ends with a footnote section with additional suggestion.

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Good Spirit: Dear Soul, let us return to our previous text and hear again these words of Jesus.

"We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.
Night is coming when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Soul: How is it possible that something could prevent Jesus from accomplishing his work? And, what is this "Night" that Jesus is speaking about?

Good Spirit: "Night" verses "Light" is an important image and theme found in John's gospel. Consider the characteristic of night. The sun has set, light is absent, darkness has descended. In the darkness of night, a person is vulnerable to all manner of hazards. Stumbling blocks, and predators lay hidden, unseen and waiting, like a trap. But it is in the night, hidden by the cover darkness, that people of evil intention seek out their victims. Because of this, people end their activities as night approaches, and seek the shelter and protection of their homes, behind locked doors.

For John, "night" is the absence of Jesus in the life of a soul. Jesus is the "Light" shinning (revealing) the light of truth about all things in the world. Without the light of Christ, the soul is stumbling through life, reduced to being its own light, creating its own truth. Seen from outer space, at night the cities of the world appear to be ablaze of light throughout a darkened planet. Yet, within these cities of man-made light, all manner of deeds of darkness are undertaken in the name of truth. 

Most important of all, night refers to Satan and his works. In heaven, before his banishment from God's presence, he was Lucifer, angel of light. Now he has become the prince of darkness. But his darkness is unlike the darkness of the natural world. His darkness appears as light, deceiving souls into thinking they are in the light of Christ. Lucifer's so-called light is devoid of all truth, having within it only lies. That is why he is called the Great Deceiver. 

And so there remains but two choices, to walk in the light of Christ, or to walk in darkness. To walk in the light of Christ begins here, in prayer. We are entering the final two weeks of Lent. As you listen to the voices in the scriptures which are the readings for these days to come, you will hear people speaking against Jesus, convinced they are speaking with the light of truth in them. Listen to the voice of Jesus. Make the Word your daily bread and your prayer a time of listening and dialogue with Jesus. In this way you will learn, more and more, how to distinguish between the so-called lights of this age and the true Light of Christ.

.................................... footnotes ....................................

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6