“’Making a choice’ to allow the Lord to reveal ‘the light of His love and grace’ in our hearts!”

(Based on Dan 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62 and Jn 8:12-20 – Monday of the 5th Week of Lent)

During the height of apartheid in South Africa…
… Archbishop Desmond Tutu emerged as a voice of reason and justice in a time of intense division.

In the midst of a society where hatred and fear divided people by race, Archbishop Tutu – making a conscious choice for goodness – became a beacon of reconciliation.

His unwavering commitment to nonviolent resistance and truth-seeking helped bring the nation toward healing and reconciliation.

In one of his famous quotes, the courageous Archbishop said:
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.

Do your little bit of good where you are
… it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

To behold the Divine and be an ambassador of goodness…
… one must first choose to open the eyes of the heart
… for only then can we truly see the light that guides us.”

However, if one decides to remain closed to the light of Divinity…
… then one continues to remain in the darkness of life!

The Gospel of the Day is the account of Jesus presenting Himself as the Light of the World…
… and his debate with the Pharisees, who chose to remain in the darkness of error and ignorance.

Jesus is at the Feast of the Tabernacles (Jn 7: 10)

It’s a festival of going up to Jerusalem and join in the festivities with many of the other farmers and vineyard-keepers…
… being grateful and expressing one’s thankfulness to God Yahweh, Who has blessed with a good harvest.

In the evening of the Feast day, everyone gets together in the Court of the Women at the Temple to dance and praise God for His goodness.

There is an elaborate ceremony involving the pouring out of the water from great pitchers, and then the lamps are lit.

Four huge oil lamps are positioned around the courtyard, and the priests’ assistants pour enormous quantities of oil into the bases of them.

Massive wicks are created from the worn-out clothing of the priests and stuffed into the necks.
Darkness falls quickly with very little twilight between the intense sunlight and the rising of the moon, which follows very rapidly at this time of year.

Suddenly the lamps are lit, and the whole courtyard is bathed in their light.

A cheer goes up from the revellers and from around the city, as the light can be seen from every part of Jerusalem.

Using the contrast between…
… the glowing exuberance of the brightly lit courtyard
… and the growing darkness in the atmosphere

Jesus makes a loud and bold proclamation: “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12)

But the Pharisees objected and spoke in retort: “You are bearing witness to yourself; your testimony is not true.” (Jn 8:13)

There was a contrast-play, on here

The Temple was lit brightly… Jesus declared Himself as the Light of the World
The evening had set, and the surroundings were growing darker
… The Pharisees, by rejecting the person of Jesus, chose to remain in darkness!

Jesus was continually giving witness to the fact that He was the “light of the world.”

He brought the light…
… of healing – to those sick and in distress
… of salvation – to those in sin and guilt
… of power and grace – by His words and teachings

But the Pharisees and many of the “creamy class” of the Jewish society, chose to dwell in “darkness.”

They remained in the darkness…
… of ignorance – by not being open to the teachings and works of Jesus
… of death – by continuing a life of sin and error and refusing the offer of grace from Jesus.

Susanna in the Old Testament allowed the “light of God’s Grace and Mercy” to shine forth in her life, through Daniel. (Dan 13:41-62)

When we remain open, truthful and faithful, God shines in our life!

Jesus wishes to be the “light of our life!”

Do we open our hearts to allow His light to shine through us?
… or do we get stagnant in darkness, and choose to reject His teaching in our life…?

Do we seek the Lord in honesty, to cause His light to shine in our minds?
… or do we remain indifferent in darkness and get stuck to our proud mentality and
lifestyle…?

One of the most tragic statements in the Bible reads thus:
“He came to His own, and His own people received Him not” (Jn 1:11)

The Lord comes to us today…
… proclaiming Himself as the “light of the world.”

Let us open our hearts, in repentance and contrition…
… and ‘make a choice’ to allow Him to reveal “the light” of His love and grace in our hearts!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The Fourth Commandment – The Family in God’s Plan

In the procreation and education of children it reflects the Father’s work of creation.

It is called to partake of the prayer and sacrifice of Christ. (CCC # 2205)