I AM The Light Of The World

"JESUS spoke to them again, 'I AM the Light of the world; the one who follows ME will not walk in darkness, but will have light and life.'  The Pharisees replied, 'Now YOU are speaking on YOUR own behalf, YOUR testimony is worthless.'

Then JESUS said, 'Even though I bear witness to MYSELF, MY testimony is true, for I know where I have come from and where I AM going.  But you do not know where I came from or where I AM going.

You judge by human standards; as for ME, I don't judge anyone.  But if I had to judge, MY judgment would be valid for I AM not alone: the FATHER who sent ME is with ME.  In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid; so I AM bearing witness to MYSELF, and the FATHER who sent ME bears witness to ME.'

They asked HIM, 'Where is YOUR FATHER?'  JESUS answered, 'You don't know ME or MY FATHER; if you knew ME, you would know MY FATHER as well.'

JESUS said these things when HE was teaching in the temple area, in the place where they received the offerings.  No one arrested HIM, because HIS hour had not yet come." - John 8:12-20  

(JESUS is the light for all people of all times.  GOD guided the Hebrews in the desert by means of a luminous cloud.  HE guides us through HIS Son; whoever follows JESUS will not walk in darkness.

Light means many good things: the welcome light of dawn after a night of darkness; the electric lights which illumine our homes while darkness reigns outside; the streetlights which shine for everyone, poor and rich alike; the light that triumphs over the dark forces of evil and ignorance.  CHRIST is all that and more for whoever follows HIM.  HE is the light by which we live with wholeness and integrity, and through whom we learn to attribute to material things and human activities their proper value.

By the light of CHRIST, a person triumphs over all inner darkness.  We are conscious of only a small part of our inner self; we often obey impulses not under our control that come from our nature.  Good intentions animate us, and we have a clean heart [so we think], but we do not realize that actually we often obey the call "of flesh and blood," as Scripture puts it.  If we live in the light, the light will gradually illumine our innermost being. 

Part of the human condition aggravated by sin is the absence of light for seeking and discerning what is good.  Therefore, in serious matters, it is not wise to simply follow our first impulse.  We need to be continuously enlightened through prayer, listening to the word of GOD, studying the teaching of the Church, and accepting the good advice of our brothers and sisters.  By these means JESUS enlightens our conscience.)

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The Adulteress

"As for JESUS, HE went to the Mount of Olives.

At daybreak JESUS appeared in the Temple again.  All the people came to HIM, and HE sat down and began to teach them.

Then the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees brought in a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery.  They made her stand in front of everyone. 

'Master,' they said, 'this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.  Now the Law of Moses orders that such women be stoned to death; but YOU, what do YOU say?  They said this to test JESUS, in order to have some charge against HIM.

JESUS bent down and started writing on the ground with HIS finger.  And as they continued to ask HIM, HE straightened up and said to them, 'Let anyone among you who has no sin be the first to throw a stone at her.'  And HE bent down again, writing on the ground.

As a result of these words, they went away, one by one, starting with the elders, and JESUS was left alone with the woman standing before HIM.  Then JESUS stood up and said to her, 'Woman, where are they?  Has no one condemned you?  She replied, 'No one.'  And JESUS said, 'Neither do I condemn you; go away and don't sin again'." - John 8:1-11  

(The selection 8:1-11 is not found in most ancient manuscripts of John's Gospel.  Many think that this selection is from other sources.  Perhaps it did belong to the Gospel of Luke [compare 8:2 and Luke 21:38] and was later inserted in John's text.

If JESUS showed such respect to the sinner and refused to condemn her, as humans would, was it because HE did not consider her fault grave?  No, it was because GOD uses different ways than people do to bring sinners to repentance and to purify them through suffering.

There is a big difference between telling a person his ideas or deeds are wrong or sinful, and condemning him.  We usually condemn the person; we do not make room for change and mercy.  In this Gospel episode JESUS is both demanding and merciful towards the woman.)

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Appeal To GOD's Justice

"O YAHWEH, my GOD, in YOU I take shelter; deliver me, and save me from all my pursuers, lest lions tear me to pieces, with no one to rescue me.

Proclaim, O YAHWEH, my righteousness; YOU see, that I am blameless.

Bring to an end the power of the wicked, but affirm the just, O righteous GOD, searcher of mind and heart.

YOU cover me as a shield, Oh GOD, for YOU protect the upright.

A righteous judge is GOD, HIS anger ever awaiting those who refuse to repent."

- Psalm 7:2-3. 9-10. 11-12

(We have no difficulty with the opening of this psalm but the confident claim of innocence that follows it, is frightening.  We prefer to invoke GOD's mercy rather than invite HIS strict scrutiny.  But perhaps we have no cause for misgiving.  A Christian may confidently boast that he or she is 'just' because the righteousness that is the property of GOD alone is truly and internally communicated to the Christian, In CHRIST HIMSELF, the righteousness of GOD appears and becomes available to those who have access by faith and baptism to the power of CHRIST's resurrection.  This is the 'justness' we can boast of when we sing this psalm: 'Let those who boast, boast in the LORD.'

When we dream about a more just society, while deathly violence surrounds us, we can pray with this psalm, aware that justice will prevail and in gratitude we sing praises to the LORD.) 

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Praise And Fear Of GOD

 "But HIS face is set against the wicked,

to destroy their memory from the earth.

YAHWEH hears the cry of the righteous

and rescues them from all their troubles.

YAHWEH is close to the brokenhearted

and saves the distraught.

Many are the troubles of the just,

but YAHWEH delivers them from all.

HE keeps all their bones intact,

and none of them will be broken.

But YAHWEH will redeem the life of HIS servants;

none of those who trust in HIM will be doomed."

- Psalm 34:17-18. 19-20. 21. 23

(One may be discouraged by one's failure in past trials, weakness in those of the present, and uncertainty of one's resistance in the future.  Our own weapons are always rusting and loose in our hands.  The bright and effective sword is in the hand of GOD alone.  There will be no ultimate defeat, not a bone broken for those who are one with the Lamb of our Passover on the Cross.

Let our experience be that of the poor and the humble.  GOD is near to those who have no other support but HIM.  When there will be no assurance, GOD will be obliged, to take charge of those to whom HE owes fidelity.)

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The Testimony

"If I bore witness to MYSELF, MY testimony would be worthless.  But Another One is bearing witness to ME and I know that HIS testimony is true when HE bears witness to ME.  John also bore witness to the truth when YOU sent messengers to him, but I do not seek such human testimony; I recall this for you, so that you may be saved.

John was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were willing to enjoy his light.  But I have greater evidence than that of John - the works which the FATHER entrusted to ME to carry out.  The very works I do bear witness: the FATHER has sent ME.  Thus HE who bears witness to ME is the FATHER who sent ME.  You have never heard HIS voice and have never seen HIS likeness; then, as long as you do not believe HIS messenger, HIS word is not in you.

You search in the Scriptures thinking that in them you will find life; yet Scripture bears witness to ME.  But you refuse to come to ME, that you may live.  I AM  not seeking human praise; but I have known that love of GOD is not within you, for I have come in MY FATHER's name and you do not accept ME. If another comes in his own name, you will accept him.  As long as you seek praise from one another instead of seeking the glory coming from the only GOD, how can you believe?

Do not think that I shall accuse you to the FATHER.  Moses himself in whom you placed your hope, accuses you.  If you believed Moses, you would believe ME, for he wrote of ME.  But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?" - John 5:31-47 

(To gain a direction in life, we need some understanding of the world and humankind.  This understanding may come through reason and science, but more often we are influenced and guided by the testimony of others - by their words, attitudes and personal qualities.

It is thus that those in love discover one another, friends accept each other, a career is decided upon, a religious or political commitment is made.  It is also thus that the Word of GOD is discovered. Therefore, JESUS speaks of the testimonies that accredit HIM:

     - HIS works, that is, HIS miracles.

     - John the Baptist's testimony in pointing HIM out as the Savior.

     - the words of the Bible that refer to HIM.

Some people say that since the Bible is the word of GOD, they do not need anything more than that to guide them.  Let them know that just as GOD spoke through events and through prophets, HE continues speaking to us through actual events and through spokespersons of the Spirit in the Church.  JESUS rebuked those who believed they possessed the truth just by having the Bible, but did not believe in HIM whom GOD was sending them.

GOD instructs us in HIS way when we listen to what others teach us; in daily life and within the Church we meet people living according to the Spirit, whereas others only pretend to be religious and upright persons.

How then do we distinguish between what is true and what is false?  How do we recognize those who speak of GOD's ways from personal experience?  JESUS says that those who love the truth recognize those who speak the truth.  Everyone values the testimony of an equal.  To recognize the messengers of GOD, we must be the people who do not look for praise from one another and thus are not enslaved by false values.  Whoever seeks the truth and mercy will recognize a communication of the Glory of GOD in the words and actions of GOD's more humble servants.

It pleases GOD when we recognize HIS witnesses.  HE desires everyone to honor the SON just as HIS FATHER does.  By believing in HIS SON, we show ourselves worthy of HIS trust and thus become GOD's children, open to HIS life.) 

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YAHWEH's Maternal Love For HIS People

 "This is what YAHWEH says:

'At a favorable time, I have answered you, on the day of salvation I have been your help; I have formed you and made you to be MY Covenant with the people.

You will restore the land and allot its abandoned farms.  You will say to the captives: Come out; and to those in darkness: Show yourselves.

They will feed along the road; they will find pasture on barren hills.  They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the scorching wind or the sun beat upon them; for HE who has mercy on them will guide them and lead them to springs of water.

I will turn all MY mountains into roads and raise up MY highways.

See, they come from afar, some from the north and west, others from the land of Sinim.'

Sing, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth;

break forth into song, O mountains:

for YAHWEH has comforted HIS people

and taken pity on those who are afflicted.

But Zion said: 'YAHWEH has forsaken me,

my LORD has forgotten me.'

Can a woman forget the baby at her breast

and have no compassion on the child of her womb?

Yet though she forgot, I will never forget you." - Isaiah 49:8-15

(HE saves them from despair and from being despised, rebuilding Jerusalem and gathering those who were dispersed.  HE invites all the nations to come and recognize the true city.

Here GOD again addresses the more conscious minorities of Israel, those who held onto their hope at a time they seemed to be lost amidst the pagan inhabitants of the materialistic Babylon.  They would lift up their nation and become the light of the world.

These promises started to be fulfilled when, having returned to their land, the Jews became missionaries of the One GOD to all the countries of the Greek and Syrian world.  Later, these promises would take on a new meaning for the Church which CHRIST established as the New Jerusalem.  At times, the new Jerusalem seems downhearted and lifeless, and even disappears in some parts of the world.  Yet, GOD brings it new children from other continents.  HE invites us to look beyond our communities to those who have not yet received the Kingdom.)

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The River That Flows From The Temple

"The man brought me back to the entrance of the temple and I saw water coming out from the threshold of the temple and flowing eastward.  The temple faced the east and the water flowed from the south side of the temple, from the south side of the altar.  He then brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside, to the outer gate facing the east; and there I saw the stream coming from the south side.

The man had a measuring cord in his hand.  As he went towards the east, he measured off a thousand cubits; and led me across the water which was up to my ankles.  He measured off another thousand cubits and made me cross the water, which came to my knees.  He measured off another thousand cubits and we crossed the water, which was up to my waist.  When he had again measured a thousand cubits, I could not cross the torrent, for it had swollen to a depth which was impossible to cross without swimming.

The man then said to me, 'Son of man, did you see?'  He led me on further and then brought me back to the bank of the river.  There I saw a number of trees on both sides of the river.  He said to me, 'This water goes to the east, down to the Arabah, and when it flows into the sea of foul-smelling water, the water will become wholesome.  Wherever the river flows, swarms of creatures will live in it; fish will be plentiful; and the seawater will become fresh.  Wherever it flows, life will abound.

Near the river on both banks, there will be all kinds of fruit trees, with foliage that will not wither; and fruit that will never fail; each month they will bear a fresh crop, because the water comes from the temple.  The fruit will be good to eat, and the leaves will be used for healing." - Ezekiel 47:1-9. 12 

(Note the vision of the river which makes the land fruitful and starts from the place where GOD is present.  The invisible GOD manifests HIMSELF in the life which HE gives to people.  The Holy Spirit, imaged in the stream of living water [see John 7:38], makes all the seeds of life blossom again in the world.

The stream flows to the Salt Sea or the Dead Sea.  [Its waters are so salty that there are no fish.  No plants can grow on the shores.]  This serves as an image of the healing that GOD brings to a world, sterile because of its sins.  The fruit will be good to eat, and the leaves will be used for healing.)

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