From the Director - A light shining in the darkness
Jesus was very conscious of the power of evil. His whole life was a struggle against it. The Gospel of John describes Jesus’ life as a battle between light and darkness. Jesus is the light ‘that shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it" [Jn. 1:5-6]. "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deed are evil" [Jn. 3:19]. Throughout the Gospel the threat of darkness increases. "Then Jesus told them, ‘You are going to have the light just a while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The person who walks in the dark does not know where he is going" [Jn. 12:35]. Darkness reaches its peak when Judas leaves the Last Supper to betray Jesus and John tells us "it was night" [Jn. 13:30]. It was as if darkness had won.
But it was also as if darkness or evil had to reach its full force to reveal God’s power, for soon after the resurrection the disciples came to believe that the light was shining again. It could not be overwhelmed. "Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining" [1 Jn. 2:8]. and finally in the heavenly Jerusalem "there will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever"
[Rev. 22:5]. That is why we pray for the dead, "May perpetual light shine upon you." I could never understand how someone could rest in peace with a perpetual light shining on them but I can appreciate a world in which there is no darkness, injustice, fear and prejudice, where we can all live happily and without despair.
I find John’s image of Jesus as the light inspiring. There is something profoundly real about seeing the Christian life as a struggle against darkness, in us and in the world. There are times when the darkness seems to overwhelm. It almost overwhelmed Jesus, but it was just when darkness seemed so powerful that the light began to shine again. We are not to add to the darkness. Our calling is to confront evil and to be a light shining in the darkness.
Fr Noel Connolly
director@columban.org.au
