In St. John the Evangelist's words, "The Word...the true light...was coming into the world...that had its being through him, and the world did not know him. He came to his own domain and his own people did not accept him" (John 1:9-11).
In our world today it seems the darkness is thicker than ever. Our church is called "PHOENIX LIGHT & LIFE" and we must continually ask ourselves what is required of those who desire to bring light into the darkness, "to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord's year of favor" (Luke 4:18-19). What is required of the person who responds to God's call to enter fully into the dark realities of this present time and speak a word of hope?
Henri Nouwen, years ago, noted the challenges of ministering with a presence and message that are "counter-culture." He wrote (specifically to pastors): "The pressures in ministry are enormous, the demands are increasing, and the satisfaction is diminishing." How do we continue in the direction of being a vital witness of Christ during times that are often filled with temptations to unfaithfulness, the comfort of self-centeredness, and discouragement or despair?
In a world that continues to prefer the darkness to the light (John 3:19), let us heed the counsel of St. Paul: "Do not model yourselves on the behavior of the world around you, but let your behavior change, modeled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do" (Romans 12:2).
In a nutshell, we gain a new mind by turning from the world's darkness--going into times of solitude, being silent, and praying. These are three time-tested ways of preventing the world from shaping us into its image. These are three paths to a vital, energized, life in the Spirit!
So, we can bring light and life into this dark world as we discipline ourselves in the spiritual path of 1) Turning away from the world's darkness--developing a lifestyle that includes the discipline of solitude; 2) Regularly going into times of silence, and 3) Praying always.
Nouwen in his classic book, "The Way of the Heart" emphasizes that solitude shows us the way to let our behavior be shaped "not by the compulsions of the world but by our new mind, the mind of Christ" (p. 91). He suggests that silence prevents us from being "suffocated by our wordy world and teaches us to speak the Word of God." Finally, Nouwen points out that "unceasing prayer gives solitude and silence their real meaning." In prayer we enter, through our heart, into the heart of God and we connect to God's powerful creative and recreative love.
This Easter, and always, my prayer is that the true light of Christ will be known within us and then shown through us!
Happy Easter!
Pastor Duff Gorle
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