Daily homily for Monday of the 5th Week of Lent (1)

Daily homily for Monday of the 5th Week of Lent

Theme: JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD ….. “I am the Light of the world”

By: Fr. Jordi PASCUAL i Bancells
(Salt, Girona, Spain)

Homily for Monday April 4 2022

Today Jesus gives us a picture of Himself that fills with meaning the life of those of us that despite our many deficiencies, wish to follow him: “I am the Light of the world” (Jn 8:12). Jesus’ person, his teachings and his examples of life, are light that enlightens our entire existence, whether in good times or in moments of suffering or contradiction.

What does that mean? That under any circumstance in which we may find ourselves —such as in our work, in our relations with others, in our relation to God, in our joys and in our pains— we may ponder: What did Jesus do in a similar situation? We can always look into the Gospels and reply: I will do the very same thing! To that end, Saint John Paul II incorporated to the Holy Rosary —a “compendium of the Gospels”, as he himself recalls— the mysteries on the public life of Jesus, what he calls the “Mysteries of Light”. Thus, the Holy Father said: “Declared the beloved Son of the Father at the Baptism in the Jordan, Christ is the one who announces the coming of the Kingdom, bears witness to it in his works and proclaims its demands.”

Jesus is Light and “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12). As his own disciples, the Lord also invites us to be light for the world, to shine a light of hope amidst the violence, mistrust and fear of our brothers and sisters; a light of faith amidst their darkness, doubts and questions; a light of love amidst the many lies, bitterness and passions that surround us.

The Holy Father, as a backdrop to all the “Mysteries of Light”, reminds us of Mary’s words at the wedding feast at Cana: “Do whatever He tells you” (Jn 2:5). This is the right way for Jesus to be the Light of the World, and for us to be able to illuminate with this same light.

Fr. Jordi PASCUAL i Bancells
(Salt, Girona, Spain)