Lighting Up The Darkness
by Pastor Steve Peich
“What has come into being in Him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5)
This week of Advent, we reflect on Jesus being the Light of the world. For me, it is also a time I reflect on how Jesus continues to carry out His ministry of lighting up the darkness of humanity through me.
I often watch a movie called Romero” to help inspire me. It’s about an El Salvadorian Bishop (declared a saint a few years ago) who lit up his world.
In the 1970s, Bishop Romero was a gentle and easy-going guy who, for a while, wined and dined with all the important people of El Salvador. You know, the generals, politicians, the wealthy class, etc. The elite considered him a “safe” choice for archbishop because he didn’t question their actions.
While he lived as a “safe” Christian, he affected very little change in a very oppressive and violent society. But through the persecution and death of one of his priest friends, he was awakened to a new reality. He finally saw how the practices of the dominant culture were very antagonistic to the ways of God’s kingdom, even though many of the people of that dominant culture went to church.
Jolted into seeing things more accurately, Bishop Romero began sharing with the common people via radio some hard-hitting messages that were centered on the Bible.
In so doing, the people started to find strength and encouragement to stand up for what was godly and just. And the people of the status quo hated Romero for it. They tried to curb Romero’s preaching, but they could not silence him with truth because the truth was on his side. As our scripture says, the darkness cannot overcome the light of Christ, but it sure does push back really hard – even violently.
Eventually, one day, while serving communion in his church, he was killed by gunfire by a government death squad. But fortunately for us, before he died, he stated this:
“A church that doesn’t provoke any crisis - a gospel that doesn’t unsettle, a word of God that doesn’t get under anyone’s skin, a word of God that doesn’t touch the real sin of the society in which it is being proclaimed, what Gospel is that? Very nice, pious considerations that don’t bother anyone, that’s the way many would like preaching to be. Those (Christians) who avoid every thorny matter so as not to be harassed, so as not to have conflicts and difficulties, do not light up the world they live in.”
And my friends, know this today –– you and I are called by God, Himself, to “light up the world we live in.”
Reflection:
How does the example of Saint Romero speak to you? How might Jesus be calling you to light up your corner of the world?
How do you see God’s light overcoming the darkness in your soul, your relationships, and your culture?