The Lord is my Light
I was terrified of the dark as a child. I vividly remember hiding under my blankets, clutching my favourite teddy, desperately praying for protection from the monsters that lurked in the inky corners of my bedroom. At some point, my prayers were heard and I would drift off to sleep. Or is my memory faulty here? Was it that I received the calm required for sleep once I remembered to pray?
The response for today’s Psalm is The Lord is my light and my salvation. The Lord as a light in the darkness is repeated in the reading from Isaiah 8:23-9:3 and in the Gospel reading from Matthew quoting Isaiah: “The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone.”
I need this image as, truth be told, I am still acutely aware of the monsters that lurk in the darkness. As an adult, they have taken a different form: anxiety, conflict, the pandemic, the challenges of work, marriage, or family life. When I forget to pray, forget to ask for the light I need as protection from these monsters, I am consumed.
The image of the Lord as light is a reminder that there is no need to fear. With Faith, we have the light to guide us through the darkest of nights. Jesus is my beacon in turbulent times. He is my hope. When I remember this, whom shall I fear?
Source: 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time A1
Reflection , This Sunday