The Light

 Fourth Sunday of Lent

"But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God." (John 3:21)

Reflection

This Gospel readings come from the third Chapter of John’s Gospel.  Here we listen in to the conversation Jesus has with Nicodemus.  In today’s passage, Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin, comes to Jesus at night which is a symbol for being unenlightened. 

Nicodemus is a teacher, yet unaware of the power of Jesus as life giving spirit.  Jesus says, whoever believes in the Son of Man has eternal life.   And he acknowledges that not everyone choose the pathway of the Good:  "People preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil."

This life in the Spirit -- this pathway to Good -- is a mystery or a darkness to Nicodemus.  Being a teacher, he likely wants quick and simple answers.  He wants to know where does this spirit come from.  Where is it going and what do I have to do to benefit from it?  These are questions of the head.

Jesus wants to appeal to his heart and so uses the image of light.  People usually enjoy light:  sunshine, enlightened thinking, color TV, a well lit pathway.  But some prefer darkness and the priority of the ego (self).

Nicodemus is more confused because he wants Jesus to fit into something he already understands.  But Jesus wants Nicodemus to open his heart and let the Spirit guide him by the light of faith.

Here's another image:  opening flowers.  Daffodils.  Crocus flowers.  The world is opening up.  As we draw near to the beauty of spring time, we have good intentions about opening up to the Spirit or letting go of darkness.  Both of those require faith.

 

Where Nicodemus might not want to be so open in the daylight, Jesus encourages him to open up to the movement of the Spirit that brought him close to Jesus in the first place.

 

Today, let us pray for the gift of openness to let the Spirit in our lives. Let us keep working on getting to know God through opening our hearts and our minds to him and to others.