INBOX INSPIRATIONS
December 28, 2022
“The light shines in the darkness…”
Dear Friends,
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).
Yes, there is darkness in our world and maybe in our own personal lives:
§ International darkness, as with the war in Ukraine
§ Societal darkness, as with incidents of anti-Semitism in our own country
§ Interpersonal darkness, as with the break-up of a relationship
§ Personal darkness, as with a serious sickness or a depression.
Saint John does not deny darkness. However, he does say that “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). The Word is the light, and very importantly John states: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
With all the darkness that we may know of and experience, we still turn to the One who is the light. We especially celebrate his birth, his entrance into our world, because we believe that “the darkness has not overcome [Him].”
I ask myself: how is the Word of God, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, our light? I see three ways:
v Our light as our companion. The Word is with us always as our strength and refuge through all the highpoints and low points on the journey of life. With and because of him, we are never abandoned or alone.
v Our light as our way. Jesus, the Christ (the Anointed One), gives us a sense of direction, meaning, and purpose. He guides us in living with God and making our way back to the heavenly Father.
v Our light as our hope. The Son reveals that dying to self can lead to fuller life, that even physical death leads to resurrection. He gives us vision for the future that flows from our faith in Him in the present.
As we begin a New Year, let’s remember these inspired and inspiring words of John’s Gospel: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Happy New Year!
Father Michael Schleupner
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