Notes for Tuesday, May 6th

John 8:12-30 Jesus the Light of the World


Prelude

John’s theme of “Light.” Jn 1:1-5

Still the Festival of Booths (remembering the time wandering in the desert)

Significance of light in context of the festival: Exodus 13:21-22.

Lighting of huge lamps during festival.

Jn 8:12

For whom is Jesus the light and how does this differ from the pillar of fire in Exodus?

Widening covenant:

To a man in Abraham.

To a nation through Moses.

Now, Jesus is the covenant to the world.

What is the significance of the symbolism of light?

Poignancy of darkness.

Isaiah 9:2-4; Lk 1:67-79.

God is beyond comprehension, but we understand through analogies.

What are some analogies of God?

See 1Jn1:5. God is light. What does this tell us about God? (theo’l note)

Jn 8:13-14

Testimony requires multiple witnesses. Who else testifies to Jesus?

Jn 5:31-32.

What does he mean in verse 14?

Jn 8:15-16

Why can’t the Pharisees understand?

They also couldn’t understand the teaching on the Eucharist, Jn 6:62.

What does Jesus mean when he says he judges no one?

Creed: “From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.”

Analogy of light.

Jn 8:17-18

Once again, the issue of two witnesses. Where did the Father testify on Jesus’ behalf?

Jn 8:19

The Pharisees ask where his father is.

Contrast their attitude with Jn 14:8.

If they knew Jesus, they would know the Father. Why don’t they know Jesus?

Advanced Questions

A prayer by St. Thomas Aquinas describes two types of darkness brought about by original sin (cf. CCC 374-77):

Creator of all things
true source of light and wisdom
lofty origin of all being
graciously let a ray of your brilliance
penetrate into the darkness
of my understanding
and take from me the double darkness
in which I have been born
an obscurity of both sin and ignorance

The darkness of sin.

In what ways does God dispel this darkness?

Strategies for cooperating with God’s transforming grace?

Ultimately fulfilled in heaven.

O felix culpa – heaven will be better than the original state of justice.

The darkness of ignorance.

In what ways does God dispel this darkness?

Continued guidance of the Church.

Levels of doctrine.