Light and darkness

“God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.”

            When I was a boy, I disliked bedtime greatly.  Of course, I wanted to stay up and watch t.v. with the grownups.  But the biggest reason I disliked bedtime was going to the bedroom by myself and being there, in the dark.  Were there monsters in my closet or under my bed?  Who knows?  Anything could be there in the dark!  We all have an aversion to the dark.  After all, it’s so dark!  We can’t see what is there.  Anything or anyone could be lurking in the dark.  Creatures, robbers, monsters. 

            The Apostle John explores the idea of darkness in his gospel and in his letters.  It doesn’t just represent fear of what could be in the dark.  It represents spiritual separation from God.  It represents the forces of evil.  It represents being lost and needing someone to show the way.  

            In contrast, John explores the image of light to represent Jesus Christ, God’s guidance, victory over evil and sin.  So, it’s logical that John would proclaim, “God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.”  It’s logical and it is the good news for us, still today.  For there is so much darkness in the world:  sin, suffering, strife, death.  We need a light to light the way.  We need light to overcome the darkness within us.  We need light to conquer the dark forces of evil in our world. 

            In The Lord of the Rings, there’s a scene in which a terrible battle has raged all through the dark night.  The evil forces of Sauron, an evil spirit, have attacked the “good guys” at the fortress, Helms Deep, with rage and unbridled violence.  The forces of good fight all through the night, but they are losing.  The gates are breached and the vast number of terrible goblins attacking them is too much. 

            But then, just at the moment when all seems lost, Gandalf, the good wizard, appears at the crest of a hill just outside of Helms Deep.  He appears in the shining light of dawn, cracking the darkness in two.  He shines with his white horse and white staff of power.  And down the hill he charges, with an army of light beside him, and the victory is won by the forces of good. 

            Whatever darkness you face this day, this week, may Christ shine in it!  May his victorious light shine the way!  May the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, conquer the darkness within us and the darkness without, until all shines in the light of his glory! In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  Amen.