Every time you do a good deed you shine the light a little farther into the dark

“How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.” ― William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

Gospel Text: (JN 3:16-21)

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.

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,

but that the world might be saved through him.

Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,

but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,

because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.

And this is the verdict,

that the light came into the world,

but people preferred darkness to light,

because their works were evil.

For everyone who does wicked things hates the light

and does not come toward the light,

so that his works might not be exposed.

But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,

so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God

Being in the light as the gospel says today does not mean that one lives in the light, basking in the blessedness of such a situation. Instead, being in the light is a commitment. The gospel reminds us that ongoing commitment to good deeds is required to become more deeply involved in the light and to be part of the ongoing revelation of the light: “That it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

I believe there are still some areas in my life and in our life that are still in darkness. It happens not because we choose the darkness, but because we lack commitment to keep the good deeds in every step of our life. Let us pray that God grants us courage, so that we are committed to doing good deeds and being in the light. AMEN.