The True Light – Fourth Sunday – Holy Fifty Days 2024

In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen. May the blessing of the Father who calls us and His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ who saves us, and the Holy Spirit who sanctifies and transforms us be with us all, that we may hear His word and bear fruit—thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. Amen.

Today is the Fourth Sunday of the Holy Fifty Days, and the Church presents us with the beautiful and powerful message of the Light from the Gospel of St. John (John 12:35–50). Christ declares:

“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.” (John 12:46)

But what is this light? And how can we walk in it?

Introduction

Let me ask you: what kind of light do you use in your house? An incandescent bulb? Fluorescent? A spotlight? All of them help us see—but none can guide the soul.

There is only one Light that leads to eternal life. Many are lost because they have not found the True Light—Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. They walk in darkness without Him, unaware of the pit they are approaching.

The True Light Enlightens Everyone

“That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” (John 1:9)

God Sent a Witness, “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light.” (John 1:6–7)

God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way and point clearly to the True Light—Jesus Christ, to ensure we are not deceived. Even today, many false lights try to imitate the truth. But the only Light that leads to the Father is Christ.

Christ, the Light

God is Light, and in Him, there is no darkness at all. He is the Sun of Righteousness, the Light of Light, the One who came to enlighten those dwelling in darkness and the shadow of death.

Let us reflect on how everything of God is Light:

  • God Himself is Light:
    • “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)
    • “Arise, O children of the Light, let us praise the Lord of Hosts.” (Midnight Praise)
  • The Holy Spirit is Light: Appearing as tongues of fire on Pentecost.
  • The Angels are Light: “Satan himself transforms into an angel of light.” (2 Cor. 11:14)
  • The Righteous are Light:
    • “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)
    • “Let your light so shine before men.” (Matthew 5:16)
  • The Scriptures are Light: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
  • The Church is Light: A lighthouse and beacon of heaven.
  • The Saints are Light: “Let us conclude the homily of our holy father (name), who has enlightened our minds with his beneficial teachings.”

How Can We Enjoy the True Light?

1. Walk in the Light

“Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you.” (John 12:35)

To walk in the Light means to follow the commandments of God, guided by the Word, and strengthened by the Spirit. The Psalmist says:

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1)

To walk in the Light is to live in love and forgiveness:

“He who loves his brother abides in the light… But he who hates… walks in darkness.” (1 John 2:9–11)

Walking in the Light means:

  • Living the Gospel daily
  • Keeping God’s commandments
  • Loving our brothers and sisters
  • Shining with good works that glorify the Father
2. Believe in the Light

“Believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” (John 12:36)

Belief in the Light is not just words—it is lived out by rejecting the darkness.

Real faith:
  • Hates impurity and clings to purity
  • Overcomes pride with humility
  • Overcomes greed with contentment
  • Overcomes anger with meekness

“Let your light so shine before men…” (Matthew 5:16)

Story of True Repentance

(From the book of Fr. Luke Sidaros)

I’d like to share with you a powerful story about a young man who encountered the Light of Christ in an unexpected way.

This young man lived right next to a church, but his life was far from God. The church servants tried many times to bring him closer, but he always avoided them. Even the beloved Fr. Bishoy Kamel reached out repeatedly, but the young man would run away whenever he approached. Eventually, Fr. Bishoy began to pray fervently for his salvation.

Then one day, something changed. The young man came to Fr. Luke and asked to make his confession. With tears in his eyes, he said,

“I’ve stopped smoking these past few days… I’ve stopped hanging out with my old friends… I want to learn how to pray and how to read the Bible.”

His repentance was real and heartfelt. After hearing his confession, Fr. Luke gave him absolution, then gently asked,

“My son, what changed you? Was it a sermon that touched you?”

“No, Abouna,” he replied.

“Did you visit a monastery or meet a holy monk?”

“No.”

“Did something happen in your family—an illness or a loss?”

“Also no, Abouna.”

Fr. Luke was puzzled. “Then please, tell me—what moved your heart to repent so genuinely?”

The young man shared:

“At my university, we have a professor whom everyone respects deeply. A few days ago, while he was giving a lecture to a large class, he gently asked one of the students—someone known for being aggressive and disrespectful—to pay attention. The student exploded in anger. He started yelling, cursing the professor, and even cursing Christianity. “The whole class was shocked. Even some Muslim students stood up, ready to stop him. But the professor calmly took the microphone and addressed the situation with incredible grace and authority. He said:

‘My son, I’m sorry if I offended you. I only asked you to pay attention because I want you to succeed. I want you to pass the exam and have a good future. I see you as one of my own sons. As a father, I must be patient with the weaknesses of my children. I could call security right now and you might lose a whole academic year because of your behavior—but as a father, I forgive you.’

“We were all stunned, Abouna. The whole classroom fell silent. Then, the student—this same aggressive, rebellious student—suddenly broke down. He ran to the professor, crying, fell at his feet, and begged for forgiveness. “But the professor didn’t reject him. He lifted him up, embraced him, and said, ‘You are all my sons. And I love every one of you.’

“The whole room burst into applause. Smiles returned to every face.

“And in that moment, Abouna, something broke inside me. I saw the Light in that man. I saw Christ. I went home and decided: I want to live like that. I want to repent. I want to love. I want to live in the light.”

3. Become Sons of Light

At Baptism, we receive this Light.

“You are all sons of light and sons of the day.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5)

“Shine as lights in the world.” (Philippians 2:15)

The Life of St. Mary of Egypt – From Darkness to Light

Another powerful example of someone who moved from deep darkness into radiant light is St. Mary of Egypt (c. 344 – c. 421). She is honored in the Orthodox, Eastern Catholic, Roman Catholic, and Anglican churches as the patron saint of true repentance.

Mary was born in Egypt and, at the young age of twelve, ran away from her home to the city of Alexandria. There, she began a life of great sin. Though many have referred to her as a prostitute, in her own words, she admitted that she often refused payment—driven not by need, but by what she described as an uncontrollable passion and insatiable desire. She lived by begging and occasionally spinning flax to survive.

After living this way for seventeen years, Mary decided to travel to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. However, her intention was not to worship but to follow the crowds and continue in her lustful lifestyle. She even paid for her journey by offering herself to fellow travelers.

But something miraculous happened when she arrived.

As she tried to enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, she found herself mysteriously unable to cross the threshold. It was as if an invisible force held her back. In that moment, she became painfully aware of her sins and impurity. Her heart was pierced with deep sorrow.

Outside the church, she saw an icon of the Virgin Mary, and she fell before it, weeping and begging for forgiveness. She promised to leave behind her old life and dedicate herself to God. After this heartfelt prayer, she tried again to enter the church—and this time, the door opened. She entered and venerated the relic of the True Cross.

Returning to the icon to give thanks, she heard a voice speak to her, saying:

“If you cross the Jordan, you will find glorious rest.”

Mary immediately obeyed. She went to the Monastery of St. John the Baptist by the Jordan River, confessed her sins, and received Holy Communion. The next day, she crossed the river and disappeared into the desert, where she lived the rest of her life in repentance and solitude.

She took with her only three loaves of bread, and once they were gone, she survived on whatever she could find in the wilderness. There, she lived in total devotion to God, unseen by the world but shining in the eyes of heaven.

 A Holy Encounter with St. Zosimas

Nearly 50 years later, a monk named St. Zosimas of Palestine met her unexpectedly during one of his Lenten journeys into the desert. At first, he didn’t even recognize her as human—she was naked, sun-darkened, and weathered by the harsh desert life. She asked him to throw his mantle to her so she could cover herself.

She then shared with him her entire life story—full of sorrow, redemption, and heavenly wisdom. She revealed divine insights that stunned him, and asked him to return the next year on Holy Thursday, bringing her Holy Communion.

When he returned as promised, he found her waiting on the opposite side of the Jordan. She crossed the river by walking on the water, received Communion with great reverence, and asked him to meet her again the following Lent.

The next year, Zosimas returned to the place where he first met her. There, he found her lifeless body on the ground. Beside her was a message written in the sand: she had died on the very night she received Communion. Miraculously, God had transported her body to that place, and it remained incorrupt. With the help of a lion—yes, a lion who appeared in that moment—Zosimas buried her with honor.

He returned to his monastery and shared her incredible story, which was preserved and later written down by St. Sophronius of Jerusalem.

From darkness to light, Saint Mary of Egypt story is one of radical transformation. Once bound by sin, she was led by the grace of God through repentance to a life of sanctity and light. She became a desert dweller, clothed in the glory of repentance, and was revealed to be a light shining in the wilderness—a true daughter of the Light.

Are We Truly Light?

If we are light, we must:

  • Ignite the divine love within us
  • Stay away from sin
  • Allow Christ to shine in us
  • Be the light for others

Let us examine our hearts today.

Conclusion

Beloved, let us:

  • Walk in the Light by keeping His Word and loving others
  • Believe in the Light by trusting and obeying His will
  • Become Sons of Light by reflecting His love and holiness to the world

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

May Christ our Light enlighten our hearts and make us living flames of divine love.

May the Lord bless us, transform our hearts and minds, that our homes may stand on the Rock, our hands serve in the harvest, and our hearts long for Heaven. Amen.