My beloved brother and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE
THE THREAT OF SPIRITUAL DARKNESS
"The people who sat in darkness have
seen a great light." [Matthew 4:16].
DARKNESS means ungodliness. To sit in darkness means to be overcome by spiritual ignorance. The "Great Light" is the Gospel of Christ. The Holy Apostle John writes, "In Him was life, and life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it" [John 1:4-5]. "The life was the light of men: Saint John now introduces mankind as receiver of the Divine Light.. By participating in the life of the Son, believers themselves become children of light (Ephesians 5:8). "Darkness" indicates both spiritual ignorance and satanic opposition to the Light. However, darkness can never overpower the Light of Christ, nor can it understand the way of agape (love).
Saint Paul writes: "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:8-9). Saint Paul’s sharp contrast between the two ways is in thoughts, words and actions. "Then Jesus said to them, ‘A little while long the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness DOES NOT KNOW WHERE HE IS GOING. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you become sons of light.’ [John 12:35-36). The theme of Jesus as the "Light" receives renewed emphasis. The crowd wants to know the identity of the Son of Man. But Jesus challenges them to come to the Light while there is still time to become children of Light. Christ is "light from Light" (Nicene Creed). In UNION with Him, we partake of His light, becoming children of light.
It is evident that there is a great battle raging between good and evil or between light and darkness. Saint Paul writes, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the RULERS OF DARKNESS of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" [Ephesians 6:12). All Christians who stand for good must wage a constant battle with the forces of evil. As the Holy Scripture reveals that "darkness" is primarily used as a symbol of evil, ignorance, sin, and separation from God. On the other hand "light" represents God's presence, goodness, knowledge; essentially, "darkness" signifies a state of moral depravity or spiritual blindness, where one is not guided by God's grace or truth.
In the Holy Gospel of Saint Matthew we are taught about the "Outer darkness" ( 8:12). This phrase refers to a place of eternal punishment, described as a place of darkness and separation from God. Darkness is the absence of light, the Eternal Light, Christ the Lord. The Light of Christ shines everywhere. Light is pure energy and it is that energy which gives life to those who are in the light. People in general love the sun and the warmth of the sun. When the day is cloudy people are unhappy and feel weak and even depressed. In the parts of the world where the sun does not shine for eight months the people suffer and are miserable and turn to alcohol and in some cases, even are led to swiside.
Man was created by God to enjoy the energy of the light and to be always in the light. "In Thy light shall we see light." The Holy Apostle Paul exhorts us not to participate in what takes place in darkness, because it is unfruitful and bad for our salvation. "For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by tem in darkness. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore, He says 'Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light" [Ephesians 5:12-14). To walk in the light is to walk in one's baptism. Our goal is not to abandon the world, but to keep oneself in Christ.
Light brings joy and everyone is energized and strong. Darkness makes us listless and spiritually bereft. For the practicing Orthodox Christian the word of God is light and life. Whoever keeps near to the Holy Gospel will never experience darkness. In our Holy Orthodox Christian Tradition the presence of our Lord Christ is emphasized in the form of light, through the use of sunlight, lamps, candles and gold illuminating the interior of our churches, especially as they light the holy icons of Christ, the Theotokos, the Angels and the Saints. At the All-Holy Pascha (The Resurrection) after the Church is darkened, the Priest, standing before the Holy Altar, lights a white candle from the eternal vigil light and exiting from the Royal Doors chants aloud holding the candle high: "COME YE AND RECEIVE THE UNWANING LIGHT; AND GLORIFY CHRIST, WHO AROSE FROM THE DEAD." All the faithful theen light their lights from that one candle and the darkness in the church is dispelled and the whole church is lit up as though on fire.
The Christians life must be a life of light. Where there is no light there is only darkness, hopelessness, and death. The church where you as an Orthodox Christian worships in is a little glimpse of the Kingdom to come. The Kingdom of God, is the Kingdom of the Eternal Light. Jesus reminds us, "I am the light of the world; whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life" [John 8:12]. The Holy Spirit illuminates our hearts and souls, allowing us to illuminate others with God’s love and the Good News of salvation.
______
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 