When night comes at bedtime, Yun and I are often arguing about whether or not the light stays on. I don’t know why I want the light on even when I sleep, but Yun cannot fall asleep with the light. It bothers her sleep so much. At home, she likes to save electricity and tries to turn the light off, although it is too dark for me to do my work. She grew up with the electric light, and I with the oil lamp. Our family had electric light when I was in middle school. When the sun set and night came, I was so afraid of the dark night. Whenever I leave home in the evening, I want to leave on at least a small light to welcome me home. But Yun does not.
What about the light within us? Jesus say that he is the light of the world. What does it mean? Let us see John 9:1-12. Jesus heals the man born blind. He heals the man by spitting on the earth and putting it on his eyes. And Jesus sends him to the pool to wash himself in it. The man has been healed and can see. Why does Jesus put clay to the blind man’s eyes? Why does he want to wash in the pool of Siloam?
We were made of the earth and will return to the soil. God breathes in us the breath of life. We become a living being. The earth,
humus
in Latin refers to
humilitas
, humility. We received ashes on Ash Wednesday with this profound message: “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return.” Pride, arrogance, hubris, and self-centeredness make us blind. We don’t want to see our own reality. Rather we prefer to comfort ourselves with our illusions about real life. Jesus asks us to put ashes on our forehead or soil on our eyes. Be humble enough to see that we are dust and to dust we shall return.
Faith means seeing anew. Jesus frees us from our blind spot. Jesus as the light radiates light. The life and words of Jesus are the means by which we see the world, one another, and ourselves. Jesus as the light is the means of our awakening, illumination, enlightenment, and salvation. “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-6) Our light may be very small and weak, but it is powerful enough to make a huge difference in others. Yes, a small candle dispels the darkness.
Reflection:
What are your blind spots? Do you have the courage to look at the whole truth about yourself! Our light may be too small and weak, but it is powerful enough to makes a huge difference in others. That is all we can do in our journey with Christ.
This Little Light of Mine
“This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine/ Jesus is the Light, I'm gonna let Him shine/ I will stomp my feet, and I will clap my hands and shout, shout/ I will run around and I'll jump off the ground and shout, shout/ Let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine.”
Pastor Seok-Hwan
