Reflection for Monday, April 8, Fifth Week of Lent; John 8:12-20

Gospel: John 8:12-20

Jesus spoke to them again, 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. But you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone. And even if I should judge, my judgment is valid, because I am not alone, but it is I and the Father who sent me. Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two men can be verified. I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me.” So they said to him, “Where is your father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” He spoke these words while teaching in the treasury in the temple area. But no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

+ + + + + + +

Reflection:

Would you allow Jesus to be your guiding light in this world?

Jesus boldly proclaims to us that He is the light of the world. He further adds that whoever among us decides to follow Him will not anymore walk in darkness but will have the light of life. This declaration of Jesus is always true, always timely and always significant in our lives.

If only we would care to listen. We would discover that a worthy life in this world is a life that is centered on Jesus and not centered upon this world. Many commit the mistake of letting this world dictate upon them instead of them dictating upon this world. Then at the end they end up living empty and meaningless lives.

Many are walking in darkness today because they don’t have Jesus in their lives. We may have all the material wealth and earthly power but it amounts to nothing if we don’t have Jesus in our lives.

What would it do us if we have all the earthly riches and influence yet we don’t have Jesus in our lives? Instead of following the dictates of this world which only leads us to worldliness, sin and emptiness let us follow the light of Jesus. – Marino J. Dasmarinas