Daily Retreat 05/10/06

2006 May 10 Wed: Easter Weekday/ Bl Damien Joseph de Veuster of Moloka'i, p

Acts 12: 24 -- 13: 5a/ Ps 66(67): 2-3. 5. 6 and 8/ Jn 12: 44-50

From today’s readings: "The word of God continued to spread and grow.... May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear Him.... I came into the world as Light, so that everyone who believes in Me might not remain in darkness."

Last Light

In St. John’s Gospel, the Last Supper and the Lord’s Farewell Discourse to His disciples begins with Chapter Thirteen. So today’s verses, from the end of Chapter Twelve, recap the Lord’s final teachings to the general crowds before His Passion, and because of the urgency of this exhortation, the Gospel specifically notes that Jesus "cried out" His words of life, for all to hear.

Jesus stresses His unity with the heavenly Father, and in illuminating His divine mission, He explains, "I came into the world as Light, so that everyone who believes in Me might not remain in darkness." Without light, of course, we just fumble around in the darkness in a blind search for truth - tragically, that’s exactly what those who have rejected and ignored Christ end up doing with their lives.

But in the Light of Christ, the brilliant splendor of Truth shines fully! This crucial insight is highlighted many times throughout the Gospel of John, so when Jesus "cried out" and reiterated this point in His final address to the crowds, He was again calling all to be guided by His Light to the fullness of all life!