Our darkness will be dispelled by the light of truth 

By Msgr. John Wynand Katende

Posted on: Wednesday 15th April 2026

“Don't be afraid of the darkness; all's well for over the land and the sea. God's keeping the night watch for you and for me”. This part of the song by Jim Reeves reminds me of people’s association of night and darkness with danger. They avoid dark rooms, going outside at night, or refusing to turn off lights. Such extreme behavior is called Nyctophobia.

But that should not necessarily be the case. Many people were, after all, conceived in their mothers’ wombs in the night, just like many, Jesus inclusive, were born at nighttime. It was in the night that Jesus rose from the dead. In many societies and religious traditions, night is a time for quiet introspection, allowing the mind and soul to connect with spiritual truths away from the distractions of the day. 3 am is a sacred hour. Christians can experience peace even in the midst of chaos, uncertainty, injustice, and evil.

In Scripture, we read a lot about the spiritual symbolism of darkness and light; darkness signifying evil and deception, light being of God. However, God created both darkness and light; and, therefore, both are inherently good for our spiritual living and growth.

The Scriptures identify two different lights in our spiritual walk: one is a false light; the love of the world (power, property, and pomp), while the second is the true light; the love of God. Once we choose to reject the false light, we have to enter a certain kind of night, for a period of time, to prepare us to fully receive the true Light of the World. One comes out experiencing an entirely new perspective on life, with blessings and stronger resilience. Mystics, like St. John of the Cross, call this period “the dark night of the soul”.

The Scriptures also speak about the difference between holy and unholy darkness. Holy darkness occurs when one’s soul is in a state of grace, yet one feels as if there is a shroud of mystery surrounding their spiritual progress. God seems distant, or even absent. In His humanity, Jesus experienced holy darkness: "Father, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). It was a cry of intense suffering, from the cross, representing the moment He took on the sins of humanity and felt the spiritual separation from God.

However, unholy darkness is perceived as a consequence of sin, particularly mortal sin. It is very lonely, and the soul feels its distance from God, purely due to a lack of reconciliation or the intention to amend one’s life. 

The Gospel of John 3:1–21 and of Luke 22:3-6, respectively, contrast between Nicodemus and Judas Iscariot, by highlighting the relationship between light and darkness, not only in its literal meaning but also in a spiritual sense. Judas is portrayed as leaving the light of fellowship with Jesus to betray his Master by entering the night of spiritual darkness. Nicodemus comes to Jesus, the Great Teacher, under the cover of darkness, actively seeking understanding of the truth/light. Judas becomes a villain as his journey ends in despair, while Nicodemus becomes a Christian, as evidenced by his pleading for Jesus before the Sanhedrin and his assisting in Jesus' burial. He is revered as a saint in many Christian traditions.

Thus, despite its association with darkness and danger, the night is also viewed as a time when God’s grace is at work. The soul will be purified and render itself to Him through humble search, submission, and contrition. 

Nicodemus is a great example for us today in our modern world. Unlike his fellow Pharisees, who always sought to find faults with Jesus, he was genuinely curious, with an open heart. In the silence and stillness of the night, he received a life-changing message. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). This happens to be the summary of the Gospel. When we turn to God in the silence of our lives, all confusion and darkness will be dispelled by the light of Jesus’ truth. We, too, will then receive the same eternal glory that Nicodemus now enjoys in Heaven.