Homily for Monday of the 5th Week of Lent (3)

Homily for Monday of the 5th Week of Lent

Theme: JESUS OUR LIGHT.

By: Fr. Karabari Paul

Homily for Monday April 4 2022

“I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Jesus in the Gospel of today (John 8:12-20) makes a powerful declaration about himself. “I am the light of the world”, the second “I am” statement that he has used in this gospel. The first is “I am the bread of life” in John 6:35. The timing of this statement is very important. Here we consider the Feast of Tabernacles. In John 7 that there was a water ceremony that was tied to the Feast of Tabernacles, which is why Jesus on the last day cried out “If anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37).

The Feast of Tabernacles also had a nightly counterpart to the water ceremony and that was a lamp lighting ceremony. In the temple court four huge candelabras were lit. There was not a courtyard in Jerusalem that did not reflect their light. This had the reminder of their wandering in the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land as God led the people by night with a pillar of fire. So I want you to imagine these blazing torches whose flames burned each night through the time of the feast. With these torches of light blazing in the temple complex, Jesus speaks to the Pharisees and says that he himself is the light of the world.

The implications of this statement are far reaching.
First, Jesus calling himself “the light of the world” is a claim to be God himself. Some passages with these references are: “The LORD is my light and my salvation” (Psalm 27:1). “The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory” (Isaiah 60:19). David said that the Lord was his light and the Lord was his salvation. Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would be the light for the people. Jesus comes along and declares that he is that light. He is God. This is a point we will see a few times in this gospel. Only God gives light to the world. Only God can give light to the eyes. Only God can bring light to the heart. Only God can speak light into existence.

Second, Jesus calling himself “the light of the world” is a claim to the prophesied Messiah. The prophets pictured the world and Israel in darkness. God is separate from the world and cannot be in relationship with evil. Therefore, the world is in darkness and even Israel was in darkness because of their sins. But Malachi spoke of a hopeful day. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. (Malachi 4:2 ). Simeon said similar words in Luke 1:78-79 when he took the baby Jesus in his arms in the temple.

Third, Jesus calling himself “the light of the world” means that he is the head of the true Israel, the people of God, and people must attach themselves to him to belong to the Father. Isaiah spoke of a hopeful day when the people who were in covenant relationship with God would be the light of the world. “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” (Isaiah 42:6–7)
He says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:6). While all of these points are part of what Jesus is teaching the Pharisees.

Jesus says, “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Think about what Jesus says. Following Jesus continues to parallel the imagery in the wilderness when the Israelites followed God in the pillar of fire. Following Jesus is not just saying that we are followers of Jesus. Those who follow Jesus have the light of life to walk by. If we follow him, we will possess the light. We will be in relationship with the light. Following Jesus means attaching ourselves to Jesus. Following Jesus means going where he goes, believing what he teaches, and doing what he says. Let us put this teaching another way so that we can see what discipleship looks like. Without the light of Jesus we cannot see anything in life properly. Jesus is the only light. If Jesus is not your light, then cannot look at life properly. You cannot see yourself properly. You cannot look at God properly. You cannot comprehend what you need. There is only one thing you need when you are in the dark — light! Jesus is that light for life in the world. When you are in the dark, you must follow the light to have any direction. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. May God enlighten our hearts and paths that we may never grobe in darkness. May he bless us and our household through Christ Our Lord Amen. Good morning

Fr. Karabari Paul