 |
||||||
A man named John was sent from God. He came
for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe
through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
|
||||||
| Gospelthink: I came into the world to bring light to you and everyone. Do I show the Lord's light to those who contact me? | ||||||
"I
had a way then, losing it all on my own; I had a heart then, but the
queen has been overthrown, and I’m not
sleeping now—the dark is too hard to beat, and I'm not keeping
now the strength I need to push me. You show the lights that stop
me turn to stone; you shine it when I’m
alone, home. And so I tell myself that I’ll be strong, and
dreaming when they’re
gone, ‘cause they’re calling me home, you show the lights
that stop me turn to
stone, you shine it when I’m alone."
|
||||||
|
A
person who studies Ellie Goulding's song "Lights" can look at it from
different points of view. Perhaps the best way to understand it is to
see that
she is singing of "guides," those persons or things who can guide her
out of some darkness in her life. Those lights give her the strength
she needs to
keep her from turning to stone, and eventually leads her home where she
will be forever in the light.
The Christian understands the light to be the light of Jesus Christ, the light that John the Evangelist speaks of at the beginning of his Gospel, the light about which John the Baptist testified. In John's view, Jesus is the true light which enlightens everyone; he came into our world to guide us home to the light. Of course, there are many such "lights" in our world. Many choose parents as guides, accepting what they say to be the direction in their young lives. Many accept the light that teachers or ministers give. Many have chosen the light of leadership, that is, the qualities of a good leader, to guide them. Many have chosen the light of a political leader to be the way that they are to think in the world. Perhaps the worst tragedy in our world is that there are many who have chosen no light to guide them. These people wander aimlessly through their lives, doing whatever pleases them. They refuse to be guided by any person or thought because they think that they have all the answers, everything that is necessary to bring them to a happiness that they define for themselves. Mature people will understand that they need help to bring them out of the dark that beats them and saps their strength, using the image that Ellie Goulding sings. Once they recognize the need, they will choose some guiding light. The Christian will accept the teachings of Jesus; other committed people may accept some other light. But once we choose it, our lives will be "enlightened," because it will not only light up our own little world, but it will light up the world around us as well. It will indeed be home. |
||||||
|
PRAYER
Good
and gracious
God, you have given us the great light of your Son to guide and show us
the way to happiness. May we always have the will to follow him. Be
with
us, we pray.
|
||||||
+++++ GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND
PERSONAL ENRICHMENT
Theme: We have a light that can guide us home to God. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. The Gospel calls attention to the fact that John the Baptist was "sent," that is, he was called to the ministry of setting the stage for Jesus. In your opinion, what does it mean to be "called by God"? In what way are you called by God? 2. Text analysis: the lady in the song lost it on her own. What is the meaning of the phrase? 3. What times in life can be described by the phrase: "The dark is too hard to beat." 4. Text analysis: In your opinion, what different things in life causes us to turn to stone? 5. Text analysis: the lights are calling the person in the song to "home." What is your interpretation? 6. What light or guide have you chosen for your life at this time? 7. What are some other "lights" besides the light of Jesus that the song could be speaking of? 8. What are the different "lights" that people choose to guide their lives? 9. How does Jesus "enlighten" the Christian? 10. Many choose leadership to be a guide. What are the most important qualities of a good leader? 11. Many choose the thought of political leaders to be a guide. Do you believe that political leaders have real power over the thinking of others? Yes or no and why? 12. Do you agree with the meditation that many have chosen no guide for themselves in life? Yes or no and why? 13. In your opinion, have most Christians "truly" accepted the light of Jesus as their guide? Yes or no and why? 14. What does the song "Lights" teach young people? |
||||||
©2007
Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America |
||||||