Reflect, today, on the true spiritual battle that takes place every day in your soul

What happened through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1: 3–5

What a great image for meditation: "... the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it." This line completes the unique approach adopted by the Gospel of John to introduce Jesus, the eternal "Word" that existed from the beginning and through whom all things came to be.

Although there is much to ponder in the first five lines of John's Gospel, let us consider that final line on light and darkness. In the material world, there is much we can learn about our Divine Lord from the physical phenomenon of light and dark. If we briefly consider light and dark from the point of view of physics, we know that the two are not two opposing forces fighting each other. Rather, darkness is simply the absence of light. Where there is no light, there is darkness. Likewise, heat and cold are alike. Cold is nothing more than the absence of heat. Bring in the heat and the cold disappears.

These basic laws of the physical world also teach us about the spiritual world. Darkness, or evil, is not a powerful force fighting against God; rather, it is the absence of God. Satan and his demons do not try to impose a dark power of evil on us; rather, they seek to extinguish the presence of God in our life by making us reject God through our choices, thus leaving us in spiritual darkness.

This is a very significant spiritual truth to understand, because where there is spiritual Light, the Light of God's grace, the darkness of evil is dispelled. This is clearly visible in the phrase "and the darkness did not conquer it". Conquering the evil one is as easy as inviting the Light of Christ into our life and not allowing fear or sin to draw us away from the Light.

Reflect, today, on the true spiritual battle that takes place every day in your soul. But think about it in the truth of this Gospel passage. The battle is easily won. Invite Christ the Light and His Divine Presence will quickly and easily replace any inner darkness.

Lord, Jesus, you are the light that dispels all darkness. You are the eternal Word who answers all the questions of life. I invite you into my life today so that your Divine Presence can fill me, consume me and lead me along the path to eternal joys. Jesus I believe in you.