RCIA Blog: Eve of the New Year

Sunday, November 27, 2022 is the first Sunday in the new Church year and the First Sunday of Advent. A time of anticipation and hope while we live the shortening of days, and greater dependence on electric lights to see our way around.

Stumbling around in the dark is at best unpleasant and at worst dangerous to body and soul. Darkness as in a dark room, affects every bit of how we maneuver. If we can, we will illuminate with lamps, candles, flashlights, and cell phones. Getting the better of darkened rooms and other areas we need to pass, makes us creative. We inherently need to overcome darkness and are better for it.

The analogy of a world in darkness waiting for the Light of Christ is a cornerstone Christmas message. We all happily add to additional lighted decorations as a sign of the holidays. It is part of Christmas time for all, Christian or not. Christ is the Light of the World and we gratefully participate in lighting up the longer nights.

Shortly after the listing of the Beatitudes, Jesus declares his disciples to be lights of the world.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt 5:14-16).

Do what is good, do it in the light, do it so that others may see its goodness and seek to reproduce it. St. Paul further encourages us:

“For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So, live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true” (Ephesians 5:8-9 ).

It seems our natural desire to avoid darkness and seek the light is an echo of the Natural Law written in our hearts by the Hand of God: “Do what is good and avoid what is evil”. It too is universal to human beings. Our desire to see the light and shun darkness is also an innate desire to seek Jesus Christ where he may be found, in the light.

In doing so, we produce what is good and avoid every evil thing. This is our annual resolution in the Church’s New Year.

- Frank Miller