Leave-taking of Pascha. The Holy Apostle Andronicus and those with him; Passing into Eternal Life (1952) of Blessed Ivan Ziatyk, Protohegumen of the Redemptorists and Martyr
Acts 18:22-28; John 12:36-47.
Read John 12:36-47
Christ is risen! Truly, He is risen!
Today is the leave-taking of Pascha. Tomorrow, the fortieth day after Pascha, we remember Christ’s Ascension into heaven and His sitting at the right hand of the Father. Thirty-nine days ago, we heard the first verses of the Gospel of John proclaimed on Easter morning. We heard that “in [the Word] was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. . . . [John the Baptist] was sent to bear witness of that Light. That Light was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world” (Jn. 1:4-5; 8-9).
Today’s reading harkens back to that passage we heard on Easter morning. We hear a lot about “light” and “darkness” and “blindness.” Jesus told the people: “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light” (Jn. 12:35-36). Jesus is the Light of the World. By faith in Him, we become children of light. We are illumined through our rebirth in baptism as sons and daughters of God.
Jesus’ time with His followers during His ministry was limited before His crucifixion and death, and His time among them after His Resurrection was limited to the forty days before His Ascension. The time we have in our lives to turn away from walking in darkness to walking in the light of Christ is also limited. Let us not turn a blind eye to our need to always repent of our sinful habits and ways of thinking. Let us pray for the grace to put on the mind of Christ.