I remember sitting across from the priest. I had just unloaded some pretty heavy stuff. He looked at me with gentleness, reached over, and flopped his Magnificat open to the day’s Gospel, John 3:16-21. “How do you feel about this passage?” I looked back at him, wrinkled my nose, and smirked a little, “Um . . . yeah . . . I’m not a fan.”

You see, I know God loves me, I know He forgives me when I repent, and I know He desires me to be with Him forever in Heaven. But sometimes things get lost in translation between the knowing in my head and the believing in my heart. Then, I end up in a place of self-condemnation, overwhelmed by my sins, faults, and failings.

In those moments when I find myself preferring darkness to light (John 3:19), I need to turn toward The Light to expose the lies in my heart. I need to recognize that the darkness of my self-condemnation comes from believing in myself instead of the true God Who “did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17).

Sister, as we bask in the light of the Lord’s Resurrection, if you find yourself lost in the darkness, in the lies that say your past, your sins, your faults define you, “Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame” (Responsorial Psalm). Live in the truth that “whoever believes in Him will not be condemned” (John 3:18).

"God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life" (John 3:16).

Sister, where does darkness need to be exposed in your heart today? Where does the light of the Resurrection need to conquer the lies and enable you to live the truth?

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[bctt tweet="Bask in the light of the Lord’s Resurrection. // Sister Maria Fatima of @dsmmevocations" username="blessedisshe__"]

Lord Jesus, illuminate my heart and scatter the darkness.