My favorite Mass of the liturgical year is the Easter Vigil. Besides watching the adult Baptisms, my favorite part is when the Easter candle processes into a dark church while we wait in still silence.
The words are loudly proclaimed, Christ, our Light! The candle is brought into church, representing Jesus our Light, Hope, and Promise. Everything a dark, hurting world desires, He offers in fullness.
At the reception after Mass this year, one of the children who was baptized with her mother shared something with me. She said the big candle reminded her that Jesus is our flashlight in the world. Yes, sweet little one, He is.
Jesus, our flashlight, come illuminate the darkness in our hearts and minds.
The images of light and darkness are some of the most common themes we see throughout the pages of the Bible. We see many people experience this in their unique role in Salvation history. We see this image in today’s Psalm, “The Lord is my light and my salvation whom should I fear?" (See Psalm 27:1.) It is rich with meaning and application for our own lives. The Lord enters in the moments and spaces of darkness in our lives and brings light into them.
Are there spaces where you need Jesus to be a flashlight? What is hiding in the dark that needs to be brought into the light? Because it is in those spaces that Jesus wants to be our flashlight. These are the areas in which He most desires our wholeness, healing, and restoration.
Whatever the present situation is in my life, Jesus come be the Light in that space.
Patty Breen is a full-time lay minister who finds joy in running, strong cups of coffee, and all things Ignatian spirituality. A Midwestern gal from the mitten state, she is constantly learning to find grace in all things. She is passionate about ministry, writing, a great lipstick color, and smiling is her favorite. Find out more about her here.
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