Homily For in Fifth Week of Lent Year C, 7th April 2025

Homily For in Fifth Week of Lent Year C, 7th April 2025

Readings: Dan.13:41-62; Ps. 23; John 8:12-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LET THE LIGHT OF CHRIST THE LIGHT OF CHRIST ILLUMINATE THE DARKNESS OF SIN IN OUR LIVES

In the scripture, the theme of light is well emphasized, but oftentimes we struggle between the powers of light and darkness. In most discourse on the theme of light, Jesus refers to himself as the light of the world as we have it in our Gospel passage today when he said: ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life”

Here, Jesus presents himself as the image of God and the light of the world as he declares his mission in the world. And his mission is not to judge the world but to save it. But this may seem contradictory as we know that the presence of light brings judgment to darkness, and Jesus said, You judge by human standards; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgement is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, this is what the Pharisees failed to understand.

The fact is that there is no contradiction in these statements, for Jesus had come from the Father, bearing the light of his love, revealed by his word and deed. Those who receive him walk in this light. Those who reject him stumble around in the darkness. However, the primary purpose of his first coming was not to judge the world but to provide salvation to the world through his passion and death.

But referring to the concept of judgment on the last day, this is implicit in the second coming of Jesus, because the light of the risen Lord will divide people into those who come to it and those who hide from it. Therefore the first coming is not to judge but to save, while the second coming will be for judgment, for light will surely be separated from darkness and all that is not of light. This is what plays out in our first reading today in the story of Susanna.

Dear friends, today we are called to walk in the light of Christ, for every day is an opportunity for us to examine ourselves to know if there are areas in our lives that still remain in the darkness of this passing world. It’s time for us to get rid of them, it’s time to let the light of Christ's presence illuminate the darkness of sin and shame in our lives. It’s time to embrace the salvation which Jesus has won for us for tomorrow may be too late.

It’s time to let the light of Christ in us illuminate the world through our ways of life. Let us, like Daniel in our first reading today, discern carefully through the power of the Holy Spirit how best we can spread the Good News of Jesus, the light of the world, who has won salvation for all the people who embrace the light of his word.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we have come to know Jesus as the true light of the world, make us instruments of your light in the darkness in our families, societies and the world at large, so that by our worthy way of life, we may bring others to the fullness of life in you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed week.