Seasons of darkness
And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet. Luke 24:36-40
Walking in the halls of 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York was a somber experience. It brought me back remembering that early morning call I received from my wife to turn on the television because the twin tower of World Trade Center were hit by planes. Then, to hear the experiences of the ones in one way or another were directly affected by the tragic event were astonishing. You hear myriad of emotions such as sadness, doubts, fear, anger, loneliness, and the feeling of lostness. There are different ways people cope during times of lost. This manifests the resiliency of the soul. Yet, until one recognizes that there is a promise that there will come a time of no more nights of weeping, then periods that feel as though that dawn will never come seemed to be forever. No doubt, regardless of how strong we say our faith is, we are not exempt from going through seasons of darkness. Our Lord Jesus Christ expressed such emotion hours before his arrest, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me” (Matthew 26:38). The disciples’ spirit was crushed when they were dealing with the death of Christ. They felt a strong sense of darkness and loss. Yet, in the midst of grieving and feelings of doubt, Jesus appeared and said, “Peace be with you” (Luke 24:36). Then to alleviate them from their feeling of darkness, He showed them that He is alive. He is telling them that the story will not end in darkness and the dawn will come. If it is true that your life is under God’s power and dominion, the feeling of darkness could be overcome. Trusting Him will deliver you from darkness. When darkness comes, it is easy to stumble and fall. Jesus promised that He is with you during times of darkness. He will provide you light so you could see His way. “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (John 1:4).
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com