Good morning, good people. May the Lord give you peace, health, and happiness in the Holy Spirit. Today is April 7, 2025. We reflect on Daniel 13:1–9, 15–17, 19–30, 33–62 and John 8:12–20.
What keeps us unwavering in odd times? Our Holy Father Pope Francis points out, “The light of Christ illumines the darkness of our hearts and brings us true freedom. Let us allow ourselves to be transformed by that light!”
Only the light of Christ can dispel all forms of darkness and disparity in our lives. God does not remain silent or indifferent when we suffer unjustly, especially when we are falsely accused for not cooperating with evil.
When we are innocent and endure injustice, we can be assured that God shields us with the light of truth. As long as the light of truth shines in our souls, no dark, evil intention—no matter how powerful its source—can destroy the innocence of our hearts. That innocence is holiness.
When consciences are corroded by lust and selfishness, there is no space for truth or justice. Yet the lies of the powerful cannot weaken the courage of the God-fearing. Truth is the light of our hearts and lives. Jesus is the Truth of our souls and beings.
The light of the world may dim with distance, but the light of Christ grows brighter through intimacy with Him. The more we chase power, wealth, and worldly influence, the more our consciences risk being corrupted by greed, lust, and duplicity. In such an environment, transparency, accountability, and justice vanish.
When human conscience becomes dull, truth may be suppressed, but it can never be buried—not even by the most powerful people on earth. Justice constantly knocks at the doors of truth, begging for mercy. Even institutions tasked with upholding truth are themselves subject to the scrutiny of that same truth.
The one who dispenses truth is not the owner of it—God alone holds the truth, and He never compromises in revealing it. The first reading powerfully illustrates this: infatuation blinds the judges, and they threaten Susanna when she refuses to yield to their evil desires.
But she calls on God when the very custodians of truth betray their calling. God responds, revealing the truth through Daniel—whose name means “God is my judge”—and Susanna is saved from shame and death.
We need not panic when falsely accused. Lies and false accusations only deepen the foundations of truth within us, especially when we endure harassment unjustly. It is only by the light of Christ that we can be impartial, just, and truthful in all we do and speak.
We are not called to live in fear or anxiety about being mistreated by those who twist the truth. The Psalm today reminds us: “Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.” (Ps 23:4)
Maria, a young teacher, was falsely accused of tampering with student grades. Suspended and humiliated, she remained calm, rooted in prayer and silent trust in God. She chose not to retaliate. Weeks later, an audit cleared her name, and the real culprit confessed.
Upon her return, she simply said, “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?” Her quiet faith had let the light of Christ overcome the darkness of injustice.
In the Gospel, Jesus proclaims: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12) Indeed, Christ is the Light of the World. But we must ask ourselves: Is He the light of our soul, our mind, and our life?
No darkness—no matter how deep—can hide the brilliance of Christ’s light. As we near the end of our Lenten journey, we are invited to come closer to the Light of Christ. May we allow Jesus to illuminate every dark corner of our hearts, dispelling lies and restoring peace.
Our faith in Him is the proof that His light shines in us. May God continue to fight for us against the calumnies and lies spoken against us. May your day be filled with peace, as you walk in the light of Christ.