Psalm Reflection: The Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle A

“The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.” - Psalm 112

“Oh, you think darkness is your ally. You merely adopted the dark; I was born in it, molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man. By then it was nothing to me but blinding.”

This is what the villain, Bane, says when confronting Batman, the hero. Batman was always fighting for good, but because he did so as a vigilante under the cover of darkness, he was painted to be a menace. He lived in the dark, only so he could get close enough to shed light upon the darkness.

When we have been living in darkness for so long, the light becomes foreign, painful and blinding. The light is so bright and uncomfortable because it confronts the reality that we have grown accustomed to the dark and we are not able to see clearly outside of it. 

As Christians, we are called to be ambassadors and bringers of the light into the darkness of both the world and the human heart. We must live in this fallen world until we are one day in Heaven, not to grow accustomed to the darkness of evil and sin, but to shed light upon it in order to transform it, change it, and turn away from it.

When we do these things, others may react to the pain of the blinding light we bring. This is not because we are so great and pure, but because we proclaim Jesus Christ who said: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12, 9:5). As a result, people may dislike us, persecute us, accuse us, and even hate us because of Him.

“Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me.” - Matthew 5:11

At times, virtually everyone in Gotham city believed lies about Batman that he was a villain and a murderer. Nonetheless, He never stopped fighting. He always rose from the ashes and the doubt to continue fighting for justice, and to expose the lies and evils that existed in the city. 

We are called to do the same.

We are in a battle for our soul and the souls of this world. The enemy takes no days off and is wiling to distort any truth for his purposes. After all, he is called “the father of lies,” and many people have been so conditioned by his falsehoods that light and truth seem like the opposite to them (John 8:44). That does not mean we change or stop trying.

Jesus took His mission all the way to its’ very painful and horrific destination: the cross. He did not deviate from His path or overpower his tormentors, even though he has the power to do so. He went into the depths of darkness, all the way to death itself, so that He could shed His light there and rise from the dead. There is no darkness or evil so great He cannot expose and redeem it.

So, this week, assess your life and equip yourself for battle.

Where are you attached to darkness or sin?

What lies have you come to believe about yourself or about God? How do they keep you from experiencing His love and freedom?

What do you need to fight this battle so as to win?

Do you have accountability and community?

Do you pray daily and avoid the near occasion of sin?

Do you frequent the Sacraments?

Do you make frequent use of sacramentals?

Do you ask for the intercession of your guardian angel, St. Michael, Mary and the rest of the Saints?

Do you need to talk to a priest, spiritual director, or counselor about unhealed wounds, unforgiveness, or previous attachment to evil or the occult?

Who or what are the sources of light in your life?

What light do all of these questions shed upon your life and your heart?

What are you going to do as a result?

It may be painful to realize how far we have travelled from the light, but without it we will never experience true love, belonging, truth, goodness, beauty or freedom. Those are the things you were created for and those are the things you deserve, no matter how much the father of lies tries to convince you otherwise.

Fight back.

Stand firm.

Do not give up.

God is with you.

You were born for this.

I am praying for you, please pray for me, and I will see you in the Eucharist.

Matt