Daily Catholic Lectio
Wed, 10 Apr 2024
Second Week of Easter – Wednesday
Acts 5:17-26. John 3:16-21
Coming to light
The dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus continues in today’s gospel reading. Jesus says, “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” This is one of the key sayings of Jesus in John. This tells us not only about the grandiosity of God’s love but also about human freedom. Even though God has sent his son to redeem the world, redemption does not happen automatically. One has to believe in the Son.
Believing in the Son means coming to the light, and not believing him would mean bringing oneself condemnation.
Humans, even though they are created in God’s image and likeness, have the freedom of choice to act the way they like. They can choose to come to light or not to.
(a) God is the light. He is the truth. When we do things together with God, we do good.
(b) Those who do evil are afraid to come to light for fear of their actions being revealed.
What is light? Light is not what illuminates our external world. Light is what we feel in the heart of our hearts. We are light when we are able to identify our neighbour as our brother or sister and love him or her.
Saint Augustine, writing about his conversion, says, “When I was resolved to let go of my past life, the old inclinations and desires clung to my outer garment and did not let me go. They thought that I could not live without them.”
Light shines on all; light shines in all. Only a few people acknowledge the light and come towards it. There is no punishment for being in the dark; being in the dark itself is a punishment. Light is truth. Light is freedom.
The first reading brings before us the miraculous escape of the disciples from prison. Those who are liberated inward can never be bound in chains outward. In the responsorial psalm (cf. Ps 34), the Psalmist thanks God that God has liberated him from every snare.
#
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” (Jubilee A. D. 2025, bite 69)
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
Leave a comment