Be Light

A Reflection on the Second Reading for March 22nd, 2020:
Fourth Sunday of Lent

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Ephesians 5.8-14

Brothers and sisters: Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light — for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.

Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it is said, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

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Pause. Pray.

And then read more...

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What does it mean to be light?


To be light means to live your life in Christ, to be open to His wisdom, and emanate luminous love. A light draws others near. A light is warm and bright. A light is beautiful.   


It can be hard in times like these, amidst the chaos and panic in our world right now, to strive to be Light and see the Light in others. But now, more than ever, God is calling us to be a light in this world full of suffering.


During times of pandemic such as this, it can be so easy to feel discouraged, anxious, and even lonely. It can be easy to see all of the bad and the sadness rather than the goodness of God. Some may even question in these times if God is really good at all. But these worries and questions only lead us further into darkness.


It is important, especially now, that we have confidence in God. Prayer does amazing things. Pray that you may be Light and see Light. Pray for not only yourself but others around you that we would turn to God rather than away.


I know from my own experience with anxiety that it is quite easy to be consumed by the fear that results from it. Fear always stops us from living out life in its fullness. Fear also gets in the way of our relationship with the Lord. How can we have confidence in the Lord with fear burdening our hearts? We simply cannot. Acknowledge those fears and fight them in the Light.


The Lord wants to help us with those fears: “Christ will shine on you.” Allow this time of isolation to also be a time of growth. Through God we can learn to shine on others while we overcome anxieties and loneliness.


Let us pray, that in the coming weeks we do not lose hope, that we have good health, and that we strive to love others as God loves. Amen.




Megan Noye

Photo by Trent Szmolnik on Unsplash

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