The Society of Saint John the Evangelist: The Daily Office

Holy Week at the Monastery

Wednesday in Holy Week

Br. David Vryhof

Meditations for Holy Week, 2008 – Wednesday

The Service of Tenebrae – ‘a service of shadows’ (light vs. darkness)

a meditative experience, opening ourselves to “compassion” (suffering with)
using symbols of darkness and light, which reflect the mood & message of Holy Week
today’s reflection: Jesus as the Light of the World

“I am the Light of the World”

Prologue – “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world” (1:9). (cf. also 1:1-5)

God as Light in the Hebrew Scriptures:
Genesis 1:3 – God as the creator of light.
Psalm 27:1 – God identified with light.
Isaiah 60:1-3, 19 – God’s coming likened to a light that penetrates the darkness.

God as Light in the New Testament:

Matthew 4:16– Jesus’ coming as fulfillment of Isaiah’s promise.
Luke 2:32 – Simeon recognizes Jesus as the light that has come.
John 8:12 - Jesus identifies himself as the “light of the world.”
I John 1:5-7; 2:7-11 – The image of light continues to be important to the Johannine community.

Jesus: “I am the light of the world” (8:12, 12:44-46)
The Feast of Tabernacles / Festival of Booths (7:2, 10, 14)

lighting of the candelabra on the 1st day of the festival
commemorating the journey through the wilderness in which they had been guided by God’s light (Ex.13:21)
the ‘Shekinah’ or ‘the glory of God’ in the cloud and pillar of fire, resting on the Tabernacle (Num.9:15-22), and on Solomon’s Temple on the day of its dedication (I Kings 8:10-11; II Chron.5:13,14) – God dwelling among them.

The significance of Jesus’ claim in this context

that he was the Messiah (the long-awaited light prophesied by Isaiah)
that he was the divine guide (the light that showed the way)
that in him God’s light/glory had come to earth (God’s light present among them)
that in him the glory and the splendor of God’s light was overcoming the darkness of the world

Qualities of light

Light reveals things as they are. This is why those whose deeds are evil fear the light and hate Jesus (3:19-21). God’s light shines to reveal darkness and sin before sorrow for sin is awakened and forgiveness sought.
Light guides us along the way. Those who walk in the light see the way and do not stumble. Jesus is the light in which we see the way to God (11:9-10).
There is always a certain limitation in light. The day has its hours of light, but the darkness comes. There are things that have to be done while we have the light. We must accept and follow Jesus while we have the opportunity to do so (12:35-36).
Light is a necessary condition for life. Growth depends on light. Health depends on light. Goodness depends on light. Light and life are inseparable. “In him was life, and the life was the light of all people” (1:4).
There is a certain unconquerable quality in light. All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the smallest light. The light and the darkness stand forever in opposition, but the darkness cannot extinguish the light. Jesus is the light and the darkness will not, can not, overcome the light (1:5).

The Healing of a Blind Man (John 9:1-41) – light vs. darkness, seeing vs. blindness

Jesus’ healing of the blind man as a ‘sign’ (9:1-7).

The blind man comes to faith:

‘the man called Jesus’ (9:11)
‘he is a prophet’ (9:17)
‘if this man were not from God, he could do nothing’ (9:33)
‘Lord, I believe’ (9:38)

The blindness of the Pharisees: ‘Surely, we are not blind, are we?’ (9:40-41)

John’s readers would recognize the connection between light and vision. Since Jesus enabled someone to see, he could legitimately claim to be a source of light. They would also know that light can produce blindness as well as vision (when those who obstinately stare at the sun, refusing to recognize its power). The blind man, who knew he could not see, welcomed the light and was enlightened (coming to believe in Jesus), while the Pharisees who claimed to see the truth, saw only darkness when in the presence of the light, Jesus.

Jesus was acting as God would by making the blind to see (Isa.29:18, 35:5, 42:16, Ps. 146:8). The Scriptures had promised that God would send his ‘servant,’ who would be the ‘light of the nations, to open the eyes of the blind’ (Isa.42:6-7). Even though Jesus’ act appeared to violate the Law of Moses (which prohibited working on the Sabbath), what he did was consistent with what the Scriptures said that God and his Servant would do. Light is consistent with God and God’s will; darkness represents sin and ignorance of God’s ways.

Racism as an example of our blindness.

Responses to the Light in John’s Gospel

Welcoming the light / coming to faith (e.g. the blind man, Jesus’ disciples and friends, the Johannine community)

Refusing the light / remaining in darkness (e.g. those who turn away from Jesus, the Pharisees, ‘the Jews,’ those who have separated themselves from the Johannine community) – a strong caution about the term ‘the Jews’ in the Fourth Gospel

Remaining undecided or secretly committed– (e.g. Nicodemus)

Suggestions for further reflection and prayer

Jesus as the Light who has come into the world. In what ways has Jesus’ light penetrated the world’s darkness? As you look at the world today, what evidence is there of darkness? Where is Christ’s light most needed in our time? Reflect on the world and its need.
Jesus as the Light who has come into my life. Where are the places of darkness/blindness in my own life (e.g. places of sin and resistance)? How has the light broken into my life?
Where must it shine now in order for my conversion/transformation to continue?
In what ways are we blind, as a culture and as individuals?
We are sent into the world (as Jesus was) as lights. How can we be lights to others?
Using the Ignatian method (imagining the story), pray with the story of the healing of the blind man in John 9.
Using the method of lectio divina (slow, prayerful reading), read the witness of I John.
Sit before a candle, contemplating the qualities of light and their significance for this metaphor.
Use the phrase “God is light and in him there is no darkness at all” as a mantra today.