Sharing the Light: Meditations on the Good News of Jesus Christ

By Luke A. Veronis

"One of the most effective ways to heal people and draw them close to God is through teaching and preaching." —Saint John Chrysostom

 

The ultimate goal of a sermon, as well as any teaching in the Church, is not simply to increase our knowledge of the faith but to inspire and motivate change in our lives. This is what St John Chrysostom meant when he talks about the most effective way of healing people. The purpose is to help people encounter the living God so that they invite His Spirit into their lives to guide and direct them, to inspire and empower them, to comfort and heal them, to lead them to repentance and change, and to recreate each person more and more into the likeness of God. Here lies my hope for this book.

 

We live in a day and age where our lives are filled with busyness and superficial nonsense. We need to remember the advice of the Psalmist to "Be still and know that I am God." In silence and stillness we encounter God. In dedicating time to dwell in His Presence we nourish our souls. We need to consciously choose to take time each day to fill our minds with spiritually uplifting words which enrich our hearts. My prayer is that you will find such words in this book that will bless your heart and nourish your soul.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Luke A. Veronis
• Release date: Mar 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393421801

Book preview

The Light of Epiphany (Theophany)

Hatred, anger, and violence. Cheating, corruption and greed. Impurity, lust and uncontrolled sex. Self-centeredness, self-love, and self-interest. These all seem to be a part of our so-called progressive, enlightened society. Although we live in an age of unbelievable technological, medical and scientific advances, and live in a world where we have greater freedom than ever before in history, still the same centuries-old vices of humanity continue to plague us—the darkness of greed, hatred, anger, lust, self-righteousness, self-centeredness and self-love.

We hear the words in the Gospel, The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light. On those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen! (Mt 4:16)

In the midst of this world’s darkness, we Christians hear Jesus Christ proclaim loudly and boldly, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. (Jn 8:12) What a great promise of hope to carry with us throughout this new year and throughout our entire lives.

You see, in a secular worldview, where the humanist places the human being at the center of life, he or she faces a very serious dilemma. How can they understand the evil in the world? What do they do with the darkness that they see all around them? How can they find meaning in life itself from such a worldview where man is at the center of everything? If we accept no outside guiding force, no eternal standard, no ultimate reality beyond ourselves and our own desires, then where will we end?  Where will we find hope?

Jesus Christ promises us a life full of light, full of love, full of joy, full of promise, full of hope, full of meaning. I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly. (Jn 10:10) The abundant life He promises us will not be a life that can be corrupted by the scandals that surround us. This abundant life is not a life that can be lost through the self-centeredness and indifference of others. The light of life that Christ offers becomes a well-spring within us, bursting forth and refreshing us each and every day.

When we dedicate our entire lives to God, when we accept Jesus Christ in the depths of our hearts, and when we walk with Him daily in an intimate manner, then nothing can take away the light, love, joy, hope, promise and meaning which Christ gives us!

This is the main meaning of the feasts which we celebrate on Christmas, and then Epiphany. First, we rejoice at the coming of God as a human being and His birth as a baby in Bethlehem. Then, we remember the Baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan. It is interesting how the theological significance of Epiphany doesn’t focus so much on Christ’s baptism, as it focuses on Jesus revealing the true and full light of God into the world.

After being born in a miraculous manner in Bethlehem, and after living a humble life as the son of a carpenter for 30 years in Nazareth, now comes the moment when Jesus of Nazareth reveals His true identity, and the identity of God Himself. Now Christ begins to proclaim the good news of great joy which the angels told the shepherds about on the night of Christmas.

The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light. On those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen! (Mt 4:16)

In the midst of a darkened world, Christ comes and shines forth His light of eternal and divine love. All who turn their eyes to Jesus Christ get to see the world from a new perspective. I am the light of the world,  proclaims Jesus, Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (Jn 8:12)

I am the light of the world that has come to overpower darkness. I begin not by casting out the darkness that is so prevalent throughout society, but I begin by casting out the darkness that is deep within the soul of every person. I begin by shining my light within you, my followers, and if you allow me, then I will enlighten every part of your mind, your heart and your soul! I will fill you with my presence, and once you have my light shining brightly within you, then you will never be afraid of any darkness the world may bring.

When the light of Christ lives within us, then we can better understand his promise, In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world! (Jn 13:33) Or as the Psalmist so aptly believed, The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom do I fear. The Lord is my life and my refuge, of whom am I afraid. (Ps 27:1)

Jesus is the light of life who came to enlighten our lives!

First, Jesus Christ came as the light of the world to break the hold of death, which has darkened the world ever since the Fall of Adam and Eve. Death, the ultimate end of all people, the frightening darkness of humanity, is not only challenged, but destroyed by Jesus Christ. We no longer have to face this dreaded end of humanity, but now can laugh at death. As St. Paul so boldly says, O death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory?  (1 Cor 15:55) Through Christ, the darkness of death is turned into a peaceful doorway into heaven.

Second, Jesus Christ came as the light of the world to shine within the darkness of ignorance. He is the light of knowledge, revealing to us the truth about God, the truth about life itself, and the truth about our purpose here on earth. We are not animals, living on earth for 80 or 90 years simply to fulfill our own needs and then to die and be buried in the ground. Christ has revealed to us that we are God’s children, created for eternity. We have a purpose on earth—to receive God’s love in our lives, and then to be His instruments sharing His love with other people. Within each one of us there is a thirst for the divine and a longing for the eternal. This thirst and longing can only be fully filled through an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ.

Third, Jesus Christ came as the light of the world to shine His love in the midst of the dark hatred that tries to control our lives. Jesus revealed through his life that love is greater than hate, and good is greater than evil. As a light within each one of us, he teaches us to allow His light of love to chase away the shadows of hatred, bitterness, and injury that dwell deep within us. No matter how dark any darkness is, His light is always greater! Yet, we have to allow His light to heal us from the self-destroying darkness of hatred.

Finally, Jesus Christ came as the light of the world to shine His light as a guiding beacon to direct our lives. He shows us the way we are to live our lives in harmony with others, in service to others, in peace with others, in love with others. Every day, we must ask ourselves, What should I do, and how should I act? Our Lord shows us through His example and through His teachings. He has given us in the Church. In the end, Jesus Christ, as the light of the world, came to reveal the path that can lead all people to salvation and paradise; a path that begins here and now.

We hopefully hear and understand that Jesus Christ is the light of the world that overcomes any darkness. Yet, as followers of Christ, must always remember that we also are called to become light ourselves! St. Paul preached, For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. (Eph 5:8)

The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light. Jesus Christ is that great light, and we reflect this gives us hope in the midst of any darkness!

A Light Has Dawned,

Inspiration from Les Misérables

How many of you have ever seen the musical or watched the movie Les Misérables ? I’d highly recommend seeing the musical, reading the book, and/or watching the 1998 movie starring Liam Neeson. When I read this book 25 years ago, it became one of my all-time favorites! Then I saw the musical on Broadway and in London, and haven’t stopped listening to the music over all these years. This powerful story has inspired countless people, not only because it has a moving plot and incredible music, but because in so many ways it’s a summary of the Gospel. Victor Hugo, the author of the original book, captured the essence of Christianity in its most practical sense by telling the story of a pathetic, broken man, rejected and despised by society, yet redeemed by God’s love and grace in the most unexpected way. Through this redemption, love transforms this miserable person into a Christ-like character. In fact, this story reflects the lives of some of our most beloved saints—wretched, dejected sinners transformed into icons of Christ through the divine love and grace they encounter from others.

We hear the Evangelist Matthew describe the beginning of Jesus’ ministry by saying, The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light... Light has dawned. (Mt 4:16) These words perfectly describe what happened to Jean Valjean, the protagonist in Les Misérables—the divine light of love and grace dawned in his soul and transformed and transfigured his life!

The story begins with Jean Valjean being released from prison after 19 years! Nineteen years of torture, suffering, captivity and shame. What was Jean Valjean’s crime? Stealing a loaf of bread to help feed a starving nephew. Yet, in 19th century France where the masses lived in utter poverty, such a crime could garner a prison sentence of five years. Since Valjean tried to escape his prison camp, a five year sentence turns into 19 years of misery. After 19 years in prison, with his humanity stripped from him, the police officer Javert informs him that his release does not mean that he is truly free. A man like you can never change, the self-righteous Javert reprimands him. Once a criminal, always a criminal. And to confirm that society will never forget his status as a thief, Valjean receives his ex-convict papers, which he must show wherever he goes. He is a marked man, and society won’t ever forget, or ever forgive him.

As Valjean wanders around looking for food, seeking for shelter, feeling the bitter hatred and absolute rejection of society, he finds shelter in the home of a kind bishop, who offers him a hot meal and a warm bed. Valjean repays the hospitality of the bishop, however, by waking up in the middle of the night and stealing the silver utensils with which he ate the night before. Yet when the police arrest Valjean the next day, and bring him back to the bishop to be condemned, the saintly bishop chooses to defend the thief, saying that he had not only given the ex-convict the stolen silver, but Valjean forgot to take the most precious of his gifts, two silver candlesticks!

The police looked as stunned as the thief himself. After the police depart, the bishop says to Valjean, My brother, see in this a higher plan. Use this precious silver to become an honest man. Out of darkness God has raised you, and I have saved your soul for God!

That unexpected act of unconditional love and grace, treating a miserable criminal like a precious child of God, looking beyond any evil act and seeing the goodness of his soul became the impetus for radical change in Valjean. He becomes a new creation. Divine light has dawned within the soul of Valjean, and as a new man, he can never forget the mercy shown to him. He dedicates his life to imitating the unconditional compassion, love and grace he received .

Ten years later, even though Valjean surprisingly becomes a successful industrialist and the mayor of a small French town, his newfound status doesn’t make him forget the poor and needy. A peasant townsman is trapped under a wagon, and the mayor jumps down into the mud to lift up the wagon and save the man’s life. A desperate woman, thrown into prostitution because of her poverty, finds support and understanding from Valjean, and her orphaned child comes under his protection and love. An innocent man is mistaken as the former thief Valjean, and is about to be sentenced back to the prison camps, yet the mayor Valjean reveals his true identity in order to save the innocent man, and thus, risks his own re-imprisonment. If I speak I am condemned, Valjean contemplates, if I stay silent I am damned! Valjean places himself in the position of every suffering person, because he knows that he was saved by mercy, compassion and unconditional love, and is called to imitate those same virtues with everyone he encounters!

While Valjean is transfigured from criminal into saint, Inspector Javert continues to hunt him, all for the sake of justice, law, and order. Javert represents the legalistic, self-righteous religious man who sees himself as God’s protector, with everything painted as black and white. He can’t accept the gray in life, and thus maintains the belief that, once a criminal, always a criminal. A man who has done an evil deed can never change!

By the end of the story, Valjean has one final chance to end the relentless pursuit of Javert, yet instead of killing the police officer himself, he shows the mercy and grace that has exemplified his redeemed life, freeing his antagonist. Valjean has become the epitome of Christ, allowing the divine light of God to not only dawn in his soul, but to shine brightly upon everyone he meets.

Although an inspiring novel, some may dismiss the character of Jean Valjean as simply, a make-believe character in a classic novel. Yet, we know throughout church history of many saints, some canonized and countless others not canonized, who have become new creations through the love and grace of God. They have allowed Christ Himself to be formed within them. Such people have left the darkness of the world and not only seen the true light, but have allowed that light to shine brightly within and to shine forth in the world. They have become in the truest sense Christians, not only followers of Jesus Christ, but icons of our Lord reflecting His spirit of love, compassion, kindness, goodness and grace upon everyone they encounter in life. We are not the judge of others, we are simply instruments through which God’s light can shine forth, and hopefully through that light, all will encounter the transforming change of the Gospel.

I hope everyone will watch this movie or musical, Les Misérables, and allow the life of Jean Valjean to inspire you to deeds of holiness!

Always Be Grateful in All Circumstances

One day a man who thought he had too many problems in his life went to see his priest. He felt overwhelmed with the challenges he faced, and began complaining about how unfair life was. Why did this happen, he lamented, What did I do to deserve all this? It’s just not fair! The priest patiently listened as the man went on and on with his list of complaints. After a while, the priest quietly responded, I’d like you to do something for one week, and then come see me again. During this week, I want you to sincerely ask each of your friends, acquaintances, and co-workers how they are doing, and listen attentively to what they say. Don’t talk about your own problems with them but try and listen to what their life is all about.

A week passed and the man returned to his priest with quite a different attitude. How did your conversations go this week? inquired the priest. The man was silent for quite some time, and then he responded, I never realized the pain and suffering, the challenges and disappointments, and the difficult situations that so many others faced. When I look at my own life now, I have quite a different perspective. I’m not alone in confronting challenges. I am grateful for all that I do have, and for all that life has given me.

EVERY JANUARY DURING the Epiphany season, I visit 150 homes to bring in the Church’s blessing for the New Year. It’s always a joy, and a great privilege to enter the homes of our Church family members, and to connect with everyone in their own homes.  Along with this special joy, however, I am reminded of all the pain, suffering, problems and challenges that so many face. Whether it’s some serious health issue or the loss of a loved one, facing difficult economic times or figuring out how to survive after being laid off, struggling with addiction or depression or seeing a loved one battle these illnesses, dealing with marital problems and/or family issues, and of course the elderly coping with unique issues of their own while their children deal with the same concerns from an entirely different perspective. Our Church family has it all! Yet too often, many of us live in an isolated cocoon with our own problems, oblivious to what is happening all around us. We focus on our own issues and don’t realize that we aren’t alone. So many have similar, or even greater struggles than we do.

In some ways, simply knowing that we aren’t alone helps with our trials. We find comfort from one another, receive encouragement from each other, and offer support to the other when we share our lives together! We also begin to view our own situation from an entirely different view. This healthy and Christian interaction can help to cultivate an