Matthew 6: 22-23  "The lamp of the body is the eye..."  We get that physically.. we open our eyes in the morning and note the sunlight peeking in through the window... and we know it is time to get up and get moving. As long as we have our eyesight.. we depend on light.  We turn on a light as we go down a dark hallway.. we use a flashlight to find our way in the dark. " But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.."  That is a hard thing to think about... to be unable to see a loved one's face.. or read the words on a page.. or know what step to take next...

Jesus uses this physical truth to teach us a spiritual reality.  "If the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness."   John wrote, "In the beginning was the Word... In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it." ( 1:4-5) Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life." (8:12)  In I John 1:5-7 this message is emphasized again.. ".. God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin." 

The "light" in us comes only from God. He is light. He sent the Light to us and He has chosen us to be the light.  The most important thing about light is that it eliminates darkness.  Without the Light.. given by God, to give His Light to us.. we stay in darkness.  Our hearts remain dark and out of our hearts come "evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slander... things which defile.. " ( Matthew 15:19-20) Yes, "how great is the darkness!"

Jesus is still talking about His Kingdom.  His Kingdom is a kingdom of Light.  There is no darkness there. He came to bring the Light so that we might have life in His Kingdom.  He calls us to follow Him so that our eyes will see.. our ears will hear.. our hearts will treasure the things of heaven. So that we will be truly blessed.. So that we can be light... 

Father in heaven, You are so good and patient and kind.  Your love flows out to us in rivers of light.. filling our hearts. Thank You. We ask for Your Kingdom to come in fulness.. overcome the darkness in us and in Your church and in this world.  We ask for Your will to be done.  Give to us what You know we need for this day. Thank You. Forgive us for the darkness that we have allowed in our hearts.. remove it by shining Your Holy Light into every part of us.  We let go of the debts of others and pray for their hearts to be filled with the Light of Jesus. Lead us in the Light as Jesus is has taught us. Deliver us from all darkness. We ask these things in the Name above every other name.. the Name of Jesus our Lord and King. Amen.