Darkness and Light

A Reflection for the Second Reading for Sunday, March 19th, 2023:
The 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.”

Sin loves the darkness. It whispers into our ears, lying to us, saying that no one has to know, that we’d never be loved if they knew. It feels safe to hide in the dark, to find protection from the shadows. It feels like we’re the only one in the dark. That’s why Saint Paul reassures us: “brothers and sisters, once you were darkness.”  All of us have been in the shadows. Shame wants us to believe everyone else has their life together. God tells us we’ve all been there, and we don’t have to stay there. 
 
“Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord.” This is a learning process. The right answer is not always obvious or clear. We’ll make mistakes along the way, investing our time and energy into what might feel right at first. But everything we do bears fruit – fruit of the light, or fruit of the darkness. If what seemed right at the time leaves you anxious, shameful, secretive – Saint Paul invites us to leave it behind, to take the brave step back into the light. 
 
“Everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light.” This is the most astounding miracle of all. When we lug our secrets out of the darkness and into the light, the burdens that made us ashamed become transformed. In the hands of Christ, our weaknesses become strengths. The sin we thought would separate us from Him is forgiven, and our story of darkness to light inspires others to come forward out of their own shadows. We feel alone in the darkness. We stand together in the light. 
 
Saint Paul commands us: “rise from the dead.” This is not something we do on our own, by our own power. It is possible only through the power of the Holy Spirit, only in community with others who reassure us that we are beloved. Together we can live as children of the light – not perfect people who never stumble, but a long line of imperfect people, arm in arm, gently tugging each other out of the shadows when they start to creep up on us again. Coming out of the darkness into the light can happen all at once, but it will also happen again and again. Each time we are strengthened, reminded of God’s love, welcomed with open arms. 
 
Today, choose the light.




Jenna Young

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