The light of Christ

Today’s second reading talks about the light of Christ. Ephesians 5:8-14 moves us to contemplate our sinfulness and the personal habits we sometimes develop that keep us in the darkness. This darkness is the confusion of the soul that results from our gradual, yet steady exposure to evil. When we surround ourselves with evil, we cannot expect to resist its lure forever. Like the steady erosion of sand on the beach, where waves continually drag it into the depths of the sea, so too is our conscience eroded when the waves of temptation persist in dragging it into the abyss of evil.

St. Paul speaks of the goodness of light. He encourages us to leave the darkness. He also calls us to reflect on the secretive nature of sin and to shed light on it so as to expose it.

“Brothers and sisters:
You were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light,
for light produces every kind of goodness
and righteousness and truth.
Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness;
rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention
the things done by them in secret;
but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
for everything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore, it says:
’Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.’”
- Ephesians 5:8-14

This passage is a wake-up call for many of us. People do not want to have their sinfulness exposed. Whenever we are sinful, we frequently become secretive about it. We become indignant when someone admonishes us for our sins. Many times we try to justify our actions to somehow make us seem less at fault. Many times the results are disastrous. Our relationships are damaged due to our pride.

We cannot let the shame of sin destroy our lives. We have only one life; only one shot at holiness. We cannot waste the opportunity. The devout life requires the admission of our guilt and the acceptance of light and truth. We must shake off our sinful ways and receive the light of Christ.

We must also spread the light of Christ to others. We must inform others of the way of truth and righteousness. We must not be discouraged if the message is rejected by some, though it may at times seem that the message causes us to be despised. As long as we love the sinner and speak with compassion and charity, our efforts will not be in vain. We must first be sure that we do not act as hypocrites. Before we can remove the speck from our neighbor’s eye, we should first remove the plank from our own eye.

Let us work together to bring light to the dark places and cast out the shadow of sin and corruption. Our message is one of peace and hope. It is the way of true freedom and lasting joy. The message of St. Paul today is meant to enkindle in us the desire for purity, which flows from the love of Christ.