the First Week of Advent
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Bible Dictionaries
Light of the World, Parable of the
1910 New Catholic Dictionary
or
(John 3) Gospel for Monday of Octave of Pentecost. In the nightly visit of Nicodemus Christ explained the mystery of redemption. Means to it is faith in Jesus as the Christ. The unbeliever is already judged (verse 18) because he remains in darkness by his own free will (verse 19). Moral corruption prevents him from coming to the light (Jesus), lest his rottenness become exposed. Rather than face this he would deny revelation. Light is the symbol of joy (luminous thoughts give us thrills), of life (light vivifies living creatures), of happiness (days of light are days of happiness). Jesus is the giver of light; in redemption He brings to the believer truth, blessing, and peace. The evangelist called the Word Light. "In him (the Word) was life and the life was the light of men," and "The light shineth in darkness, and darkness did not comprehend it" (refused to be enlightened). Christ himself repeatedly announced: "I am the Light of the world" (John 8,9). The sense is clear. In the divine economy we must believe in Christ, to be possessed of tte light of life. But this light must likewise be our moral guide, and reveal the otherwise unfathomable mystery of unbelief.
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Entry for 'Light of the World, Parable of the'. 1910 New Catholic Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ncd/l/light-of-the-world-parable-of-the.html. 1910.
