Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Certainly one of the most ancient and powerful symbols used in the Easter Vigil was the Paschal Candle. What could be more impressive than a single lighted and decorated candle held aloft, challenging the darkness when the deacon sings the ancient proclamation: “Light of Christ?” It becomes even more impressive as the flame of the Paschal Candle is subdivided, but not diminished, when the flame is passed to all the faithful throughout the church. The light of each candle literally pushes back the power of darkness.
Though our culture has become accustomed to instant and powerful light at the flick of a switch, we must continue to do battle with so many forms of darkness in our daily lives. We are painfully aware of darkness and violence, which touch our lives through abuse, addiction, and distortion of justice and truth. It is not because we lack physical light that we stumble and lose our way, but rather we have become accustomed to personal darkness in our lives, which we tolerate and even come to accept as normal. The ease with which we can make room for the presence of darkness in our minds and hearts can tell us a lot. The evils and the evil practices of the ancient world are just as real today, only more sophisticated. They take on the glitter of light and popularity and convenience, but we know we are walking in the shadows. We become adept at negotiating the darkness but we lack true peace.
The Paschal candle continues to stand before us next to the altar throughout the Easter season. It is not just a reminder of its grand entrance at the Easter Vigil. Rather, we still hear the echo of the words, “Light of Christ,” reminding us that we were meant for inner light rather than inner darkness. The words of Jesus in today’s reading from the Gospel of John provide a challenge as well as consolation.
“I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46)
We do not have to live with and accept accumulated darkness of any kind. Jesus, the Son of God, took on our human nature as a total act of love for us, even dying for us, precisely to lead us into the light and out of the darkness.
He came to be among us and within us through His Spirit to get us to move! Do we believe that? We move when we follow Him as our light to a new understanding of our personal dignity and worth in God’s eyes. We move when we open our heart to allow his love to pass through us as good and worthwhile instrument for the sake of others. We renew our ability to move when we accept God’s loving mercy in the sacraments of reconciliation and Eucharist. To believe in Christ our Light is to find a new beginning!
Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB
Posted in Lenten Resources