Children of the Light

1Thess 5:1-6.9-11, Psalm: 26, Lk 4:31-37

My dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

In the quiet of our hearts, we all long for a word of comfort, a promise of peace. Yet, the Word of God today speaks to us not only of comfort but also of a sobering reality and a glorious calling. It reminds us who we are and to whom we belong.

Saint Paul, writing to the Thessalonians, uses a powerful image: the “day of the Lord.” He warns that it will come “like a thief in the night.” For those living in darkness—those immersed in the ways of the world, sin, and complacency—this will be a time of sudden shock and ruin. But to us, he says something utterly different. “But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness… you are all children of the light and children of the day.” This is our identity. This is our reality through Baptism. We are not meant for darkness, for fear, or for surprise at the Lord’s coming. We are called to live in the radiant hope of His presence.

This means we are called to a state of vigilant wakefulness. “Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober.” This alertness is not a posture of frantic anxiety, but of serene preparedness. It is the daily practice of living in God’s grace, so that whenever the Lord comes—at the end of time or at the end of our lives—we are ready to greet Him with joy, not fear. Pope Francis reminds us, “The Lord does not want us to be fearful, but to be ready, with an alert and active faith.” Our ultimate destiny is not wrath, but salvation. This is the profound comfort Paul offers: “For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Therefore, our mission is to “encourage one another and build one another up,” strengthening each other in faith and hope.

This call to be “children of the light” is not a passive state. It requires authority and power over the darkness, a power that comes only from Christ. In the Gospel, we see this divine authority in stunning action. Jesus enters the synagogue in Capernaum and teaches with an authority that astounds the people—an authority not of citing other rabbis, but of His own divine Being. This same authority is immediately exercised over the powers of darkness. A man with an unclean spirit cries out, and Jesus rebukes it with a simple, sovereign command: “Be quiet! Come out of him!” The evil spirit is utterly powerless before the Word of Christ.

This scene is not just a historical account; it is a revelation of the ongoing battle between light and darkness, and of the supreme authority of Christ in which we share. The same Jesus who silenced the demon is present with us now in His Word and in the Eucharist. The same authority that commanded the evil spirit is at work in the Church through the Sacraments, especially Reconciliation, which liberates us from the power of sin.

So, how do we live this in our daily lives?

First, we must claim our identity. Each morning, remember your Baptism. You are a child of the light. Live in that truth. Reject the darkness of gossip, cynicism, jealousy, and anger. Choose the light of charity, kindness, patience, and truth.

Second, stay alert and sober. This means cultivating a life of regular prayer and examination of conscience. As St. Augustine pleaded, “Watch, therefore, lest the day of the Lord overtake you in darkness.” Are there areas of my life where I have become spiritually asleep, complacent in sin? The Lord offers us His mercy to wake us up and set us right.

Finally, exercise your God-given authority. In the face of temptation, discouragement, or fear, we have the power to invoke the name of Jesus. There is no darkness, no evil, no force that can withstand His holy name. “Jesus, I trust in you,” is a prayer that brings the light of His authority into any situation.

Let us go forth, then, encouraged and built up by these words. Let us live as true children of the light, vigilant in prayer, confident in our salvation, and fearless in the authority of Christ, who has already won the victory. Amen.