From the responsorial psalm: “Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come. Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 8:12-20, today’s readings)
Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You testify on your own behalf, so your testimony cannot be verified.” Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified, because I know where I came from and where I am going.”
Jesus continues to address the scribes and Pharisees. He tells them he is the light of the world and that he gives to his followers the light of life. The Pharisees question how this truth might be verified, but Jesus tells them that his testimony can be verified by the Father, where he came from and where he is going. They judge, Jesus says, by appearances and although he does not judge, his judgment is true because he is the just judge since he is one with the Father. “I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me,” Jesus says. The Pharisees ask, “Where is your father?” Jesus answers, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” Where the Father is, Jesus invites us to be. We hear this as the psalmist describes the dark valley of this life even as he looks forward to the life of the world to come: “And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.”
Father in heaven, keep me from walking in darkness by remaining in the light and life of Jesus, your Son. Let me consider his words so that I can take them to heart: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” The world and its deceptions are passing away even as morning passes to afternoon and afternoon to nighttime. Yet, Jesus, light of the world is present here and now and offers the promise of eternal life to those who follow him. There will be darkness in the midst of day, but Christ is the light. There will be death throughout life and at the end of life, but Christ is the light of life. Jesus, light and life, lead me.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.