Weekly Catholic Bible Study

Weeks 731-740

Oratory of Divine Love Reflection 731: The Light: A reflection on the Book of Acts and the Gospel of John (Acts 5 : 23-26 & John 3 : 16-21)

 

[Acts]

The high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy, laid hands upon the Apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said, “Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.”

When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. When the high priest and his companions arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the jail to have them brought in. But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison, so they came back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”

When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were at a loss about them,
as to what this would come to. Then someone came in and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people.” 

Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them, but without force, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.

 

[John]

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
 

And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

 

When you can’t find the light, BE the light. That is the basic theme of our readings today. We see this ongoing exchange between the apostles and the Chief priests these past several days, because Peter and John cured a lame man in front of the temple.

No matter what the Chief priests do to try to silence the apostles; threaten them, beat them, lock them up in jail; nothing stops them from going right back to the steps of the temple and preaching again. And this was just the beginning!  The rest of their lives were going to be defined by rejection, abuse, and death.  What kept them going? What kept them coming back for more?  What kept them from giving up?

              The empowering of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. It WASN’T their experience of Christ that kept them faithful, because all the time they were WITH Christ they kept messing up! It was the effect of the Holy Spirit on them at Pentecost that changed them. While they were WITH Christ, before AND after his resurrection, HE was

their light.  AFTER he ascended into heaven that light was gone. Then THEY had to allow the Holy Spirit to shine through THEM to continue HIS work. Then THEY had to be the light for everyone else to see.

Everyone is discouraged and disheartened because the world is so dark right now. YES!  Agreed!  It is VERY hard to find light in this world right now. But could it EVER be as bad as the apostles had it, when it was literally them against the entire world?

              The same Holy Spirit THEY received at Pentecost YOU received at confirmation. But if you continue to focus on and be discouraged by the darkness that Spirit will never be effective in you. You will mute the Spirit that God has given you.

So stop focusing on the darkness and instead LOOK for the light. Look for the light here in Church; in the readings and the Grace of the sacraments.  Look for the light in the good that other people do. Look for the light in your prayers, in music that inspires you to holiness, in faithful friends that rally you and encourage you.

              Secondly BE the light.  Be charitable whenever opportunity presents itself. Keep challenging yourself to grow in virtue and weed out sins and vice. This is how we survive, living in a dark world, without letting the darkness overcome us.          And this is how we draw others to salvation, who will gravitate to the light in us.

by Father Michael Sisco

 

Prayer: “Lord, thank you for the Light of the World that has come into the world for our blessing and guidance.  Help us to learn how to be the Light, the True Light, in this world.  Let Your Light shine brightly through our lives.  Show us how we are to live that our works may be the works of Your Light.  Let us not grow weary in doing the good things.  Rather joyfully carry them out through Your Spirit, buried deep within us.  Thank You, always, for showing us the way we are to walk.  Help us to always seek You out as we step.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

 

Quote from a Saint: “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.” ― St. Francis Of Assisi

 

Questions for reflection:

1. Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed by the darkness of the world to the point where the Spirit is muted?

2. Where do you find the light in the world?

3. Where is the light the most powerful to you in the Church?

4. It is easy to see darkness in people. When are some times when you have seen the light in others?

5. Do you have a friend group or small group that rally you and encourage you?

6. Do you take into account how you can be the light to others?

7. What are some ways that you are the light to others?

8. Have you ever contemplated how it hard it was for the early Christians to live under the Roman persecutions?

--Benjamin & Kristen Rinaldo, CfP