By Father Casey

In a wonderful bit of providence, this weekend, as we prepare for Monday's full eclipse, we will hear a bit from the first letter of John that says, "This is the message we have heard from Christ and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all (1John 1:5)."

It is a spiritual lesson that we will experience in one of nature's great wonders. For as we gaze up at the totality (using proper eyewear, of course), the sun will seem to lose all its light and go completely dark. Yet, this is a matter of perspective, rather than departure. The sun will still very much be in its place, blazing with light and heat, sending its world-sustaining energy toward us all the time; it will simply be obscured for a moment from our particular vantage. The sun will not have gone out, though the world may seem dark for a time, and with a bit of patience and trust, we will see it shine once more and again live and move by its radiance.

We've all walked through times when it seemed that the light by which we walked has floundered or failed. The God who seemed so near to us, whose presence we used to feel without thought or worry, suddenly feels absent. These experiences can be a lot like an eclipse, if we lacked the help of science to anticipate them; that is, it can feel like God was there one moment, and then, without warning or reason, God suddenly seems to disappear.

So let us remember the lesson of the eclipse: such experiences are a matter of perspective, rather than departure. God is light, and in God there is no darkness at all. God has promised not to abandon us ever, and the light of God cannot and will not go out. So when we feel an absence, it is not the extinguishment of divine love or mercy, but rather that they have simply become obscured for a time. Although the world may seem dark, we must hold on with patience and trust, until the obstruction passes, and the holy light that was always there, though concealed, once more shines.

This is Easter, is it not? That the light of God seemed to go out on Calvary, but could not, and would not be forever extinguished. It was a kind of eclipse, a temporary hiding of a light that has burned since before time, and will continue to burn until all time ends. The light was hidden, but as the stone rolled back, its rays shone forth with perfect brightness.

I hope to see all of you this weekend, as our Easter celebration continues. We'll be praising God for the light of Christ for all 50 days of this joyous season, and it's so important that we not fail to gather. And I hope you all have a safe and fun Eclipse Day on Monday, remembering to pray for the gift of hope and faith, so that even when darkness swells, you will trust in the light of God to shine.

Fr. Casey+