John 3:16-21

For people whether living or on the point of death the instruction is to go toward the Light.  Do not go to the dark side, no matter how much the end seems to justify the means. 

In this reading, Jesus and his teachings represent the Light.  And indeed, when we visualize Jesus alive in Spirit even now, do we not see Light emanating from him?  The reading says that although Jesus came into the world, people preferred darkness to light because they were addicted to evil and selfishness. They did not want to come into the Light because their actions would be exposed. It adds that “whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.”  Those who speak truth do not shirk the Light but are drawn to it.  In some ways, this is letting go of ego and self-absorption, and letting ourselves be absorbed into the Light spiritually.  This is something to contemplate in our daily lives and in our civic participation: how can we go towards the Light?  Amen.