Feasts of Light in Times of Darkness

During this time of the year when the days grow shorter and shorter as the encroaching darkness seems to overtake the light, we are provided with an opportunity to reflect on the struggle between the power of good and the power of evil that rages all around us. Another part of the seasonal shift that we experience at this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere is the cold temperature that seems to creep into our lives. It reminds us of the coldness of the human heart that numbs us to the effects of evil in the world, especially how evil effects other people.
St. Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians, “For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12).

In an age that seems to have reduced every aspect of our world and our lives to empirical explanation, removing God and His plan for us, the possibility of good and evil, of right and wrong, has disappeared. As a result, the cosmic battle between light and darkness is dismissed. There no longer exist parameters for human behavior. We may do whatever is expedient to achieve our desires. According to this world view, we may do whatever we please.

Abandonment of the sovereignty of God and His revelation of what is objectively true and right leads us to believe that science will define what we may do and eventually who we are. In other words, there is no objective good or evil, right or wrong. This allows the darkness of relativism to cloud our mind.

The Second Vatican Council in its document on “The Church in the Modern World” (Gaudium et Spes) addressed this troubling attitude. “Intelligence is not confined to observable data alone, but can with genuine certitude attain to reality itself as knowable, though in consequence of sin that certitude is partly obscured and weakened” (15).

Pope St. John Paul II took up this assertion of the Council in Veritatis Splendor regarding the moral teaching of the Church. “Today, however, it seems necessary to reflect on the whole of the Church’s moral teaching, with the precise goal of recalling certain fundamental truths of Catholic doctrine, which in the present circumstances, risk being distorted or denied… It is no longer a matter of limited and occasional dissent, but an overall and systematic calling into question of traditional moral doctrine, on the basis of certain anthropological and ethereal presuppositions” (4). The Holy Father identifies these presuppositions as “currents of thought which end by detaching human freedom from its essential and constitutive relationship to truth” (4).

St. John Paul II wisely warned us that if we constantly seek to refashion truth in response to what we desire to do, we will find ourselves in the darkness of relativistic ideologies. This will serve only to harm human persons who will be prevented from exercising true freedom in accordance with what is true and good. They will become slaves to the latest understanding of the human person and resulting unethical and immoral behavior dependent on the newest political or philosophical ideology.

As the Catholic Church continues to be bombarded with hostility from the culture of the Western world, the importance of objective truth as revealed by God is highlighted. Issues such as abortion, euthanasia, the use of aborted fetal stem cells live in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, research using aborted fetal body parts, the promotion of the notion of gender fluidity, the redefinition of marriage, the normalization of same sex activity, and the attack on the family all hasten the darkening of the human mind.  As result, a person’s ability to know objective truth and live one’s life in freedom and with fulfillment becomes greatly impeded.

This idea of living the truth in freedom is not a new teaching of the Catholic Church. It did not begin with the Second Vatican Council or the teaching of a recent pope. It is found in the Old and New Testaments. It finds its roots in the Ten Commandments and in the teachings of Christ. It has been the beacon of light in former ages that were darkened by the collapse of empires, the totalitarianism of evil regimes, and the immorality of peoples and cultures.

Christ teaches us through His Church that true freedom does not consist of doing whatever we can do or want to do.  Instead, true freedom is making choices that follow God’s Will manifested in His revelation to us.  Following His Will with a well formed conscience brings us the ability to be able to do that which makes us truly human – truly whom God has created us to be.

To embrace this truth in Christ is to walk in the light of God’s love.  No matter what dark forces try to cloud our minds and make our hearts grow cold, the light of Christ’s truth and love will illumine our way and warm our hearts.  No matter what “world rulers of this present darkness or spiritual hosts of wickedness war against us, “ we need not fear.  For Christ is risen and He is victorious!

It is so providential that the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King occurs at this time of year.  It reminds us that He reigns over us all.  His truth illumines the darkness.  The light of His resurrection drives away in defeat the darkness of the Evil One who often uses those in the world who seek power, prestige, influence and domination over others.  Christ rules!  Those who work against His plan of love and salvation beware!  He cannot be defeated.  Christ is the Lord of Life, the Lord of Light and the Lord of Love!  Christ Our King, enlighten our path through the world!  Dispel the darkness of falsehood, sin and hatred!  We trust in You!

Viva Cristo Rey!

Most Reverend William J. Waltersheid
Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh