A Place Where All Is Light
- davidwperk
- Apr 28
- 5 min read
Devotional Reflection, Monday, April 28, 2025
The week of the second Sunday of Easter
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Daily Office Lectionary readings (BCP, 958)
AM Psalm 1, 2, 3; PM Psalm 4, 7
Daniel 1:1-21; 1 John 1:1-10; John 17:1-11
Today we celebrate the Feast of Mark the Evangelist. (See below.)
Daily Office Epistle, 1 John 1:1-10
1 We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life- 2 this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us- 3 we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; 7 but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
David's Reflections
The little epistle known as First John will claim our attention for most of this week. I must confess to having paid little attention to this epistle in recent years. For one thing, the Greek of First John calls to mind my First Grade reader, "Run Jerry run. See Jerry run." The Greek style and vocabulary read so simply and easily that seminary Greek professors routinely use it with beginning students as the first New Testament book they are asked to translate. Could an epistle with such simplicity of style offer profound teaching?
For another, First John has suffered from simplistic readings and proof texting by those of a more dogmatic theological persuasion. That misuse gave me a lingering after-taste that acted as a barrier to close reading. Yet, a closer reading reveals the message of this little epistle to be quite subtle and complex, in spite of the simple style
Today's reading begins with a ringing affirmation of first-hand encounter with the Word made flesh, Jesus of Nazareth. That does not necessarily mean that the author had to been in direct contact with the earthly Jesus. For John’s Gospel and these epistles, to see means to believe, and the seeing here mentioned could be with the eyes of faith. In addition, the author could have expressed his/her close, personal contact with Apostles and eye witnesses in these expressions but did not. And, hands do handle the Jesus of history each Sunday in the receiving of the bread of Holy Eucharist.
Out of that affirmation of the author’s experience of Jesus, we are presented with a polarity. If we claim to have fellowship with the God who is light and walk in darkness we are lying. Yet, we also are told that if we deny that we commit sin we are lying. One would think that walking in darkness and committing sin are equivalent behaviors.
Yet, what the author seems to be saying is that the ultimate darkness is self-delusion, being closed and blind to our own existence and our own nature. As Rudolf Bultmann so well says, "darkness . . . is the way (we) men are closed against God--a closure indeed that becomes a power ruling the individual. . . .”*
To be open to God's light, to have a relationship with Christ by faith, sheds light on our existence, bringing us to a more profound and honest grasp of those places where our existence is caught and bound and of the anxieties and fears that stomp about in our souls and at times dominate our inner being. Again, to quote Bultmann, ". . . the real meaning of light is the luminosity (we) man (need)s in order to find (our) his way in (our) his daily as well as (our) his spiritual life."+
When we are aware of our limitations and failures, we are walking in the light. God's presence is shedding light on our existence. Then, we can run to the God whose eagerness to illuminate is matched by eagerness to love and forgive. Confessing our sins, opening ourselves more fully to the light, brings us into more intimate relationship with the God who forgives and with others who, just as desperately as we, are dependent on that God's light and love.
Lawrence Ferlinghetti put it well in a poem.
I laugh to hear me say what I am saying
Walking in my cave of flesh
There must be a place
Where all is light.#
Yes, you are spot on. There IS a place where all is light.
*Rudolf Bultmann, The Johannine Epistles (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1973), p. 17.
+ Bultmann, Johannine Epistles, p. 16.
#Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Endless Life: Selected Poems (New York: New Directions, 1981), pp. 127-128.
Collect of the Day, Second Sunday of Easter
Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Today we celebrate the Feast of Mark the Evangelist.
Collect for the Weekday in Easter
O God, you have united diverse peoples in the confession of your Name: Grant that all who have been born again in the font of Baptism may also be united in faith and love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Weekday Eucharistic Propers, p. 59)
A Collect for the Renewal of Life
O God, the King eternal, whose light divides the day from the night and turns the shadow of death into the morning: Drive far from us all wrong desires, incline our hearts to keep your law, and guide our feet into the way of peace; that, having done your will with cheerfulness while it was day, we may, when night comes, rejoice to give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Of the Holy Spirit
Almighty and most merciful God, grant that by the indwelling of your Holy Spirit we may be enlightened and strengthened for your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 251)
A Collect for Mission
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of thy faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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