And the Light Shone in the Darkness
by John Scotus Eriugena
Feast of St. Sophronius, Patriarch of Jerusalem
“AND THE
light shone in darkness.” Listen to the Apostle: “For ye were sometimes in darkness, but now ye are light in the Lord.” Hear Isaiah: “Those that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”
The light shines in darkness. All humanity, by virtue of original sin, was in darkness – not darkness of the outer eyes that sense the forms and colors of sensible things, but darkness of the inner eyes that discern the kinds and beauties of intelligible things; not the darkness of a gloomy atmosphere, but the darkness of the ignorance of the truth; not the absence of the light that reveals the corporeal world, but the absence of the light that illumines the incorporeal world. Born of a virgin, this light shines in darkness – that is to say, in the hearts of those who know it.
And following this, since it is true that humanity is now, as it were, divided into two parts – into those whose hearts are illumined by the knowledge of the truth and those who still remain in the darkness of unholiness and faithfulness – the Evangelist adds: “And the darkness comprehended it not.”
This is as if he had said: The light shines in the darkness of faithful souls, and shines there more and more, beginning in faith and leading to knowledge; but the hearts of the unholy, through faithlessness and ignorance, have not grasped the Light of the Word glorifying the flesh. “Their foolish hearts were darkened,” as the Apostle says. “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” Such, at least, is the moral sense of darkness.
But the natural contemplation of these words yields another meaning to the phrase “And the light shone in the darkness.”
For human nature, even if it had not sinned, would have been unable to shine by its own strength; for human nature is not naturally light, but only participates in the light. Although human nature is capable of wisdom, it is not itself wisdom: only participation in wisdom allows it to be wise. Just as the air does not shine by itself – and is for this reason named darkness – and yet is nevertheless able to receive the light of the sun, so too our nature, considered in itself, is a substance of darkness, but is able to receive the light of wisdom. And just as the air, while it participates in the sun’s rays, is not said to shine by itself – but the splendor of the sun is said to appear in it, so that it does not lose its natural obscurity but only receives the supervening light into itself – so the rational part of our nature, while possessing the presence of the Word of God, knows – not through itself but through the engrafting on it of the divine Light – intelligible things and even God Himself. The Word Himself says: “It is not you who speak, but the spirit of your father which speaketh in you.”
By means of this one sentence the Word wishes to teach us to understand this universal truth and to have this meaning always and ineffably sounding in the ears of our hearts: It is not you who shine, but the spirit of your Father shines in you. In other words, it is He, the Father, who manifests me, the Word, to shine in you, for I am the light of the intelligible world, that is, of rational and intellectual nature. You, who know me, are not. It is I myself, through my spirit, who know myself in you – for you are not a substantial light, but only participate in the self-subsisting light.
Thus the light shines in the darkness, for the Word of God – the life and light of human beings – does not cease to shine in our nature which, investigated and considered in itself, is found to be without form and dark. Nor, despite its fall, does the Word wish to forsake human nature; nor will He ever forsake it. For He forms it, since He contains it by nature; and He reforms it by deifying grace. And since He Himself is the light incomprehensible to all creatures, the darkness comprehended it not.
For God surpasses all meaning and intelligence, and alone possesses immortality. Whose light is called darkness by virtue of its excellence, since no creature can comprehend either what or how it is.
Contribute to Cultural Renewal by Sharing on Your Preferred Platform
In an isolating secularized culture where the Church's voice is muffled through her many divisions, Christians need all the help they can get to strengthen their faith in God and love toward their neighbor. Eighth Day Institute offers hope to all Christians through our adherence to the Nicene faith, our ecumenical dialogues of love and truth, and our many events and publications to strengthen faith, grow in wisdom, and foster Christian friendships of love. Will you join us in our efforts to renew soul & city? Donate today and join the community of Eighth Day Members who are working together to renew culture through faith & learning.
The Sisters of Sophia will gather on the Commemoration of the Great Martyr Theodore, Anno Domini 2026, February 17. Rachel Garton will present The Battlefield of Compassion: Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton, and St Verena . Sisters of Sophia When Every third Tuesday Where The Ladder 2836 E Douglas, Wichita Parking available behind Eighth Day Books Schedule Food, drink, and fellowship at 6:30pm Eighth Day Convocation & Lecture at 7:20pm Membership Required? No, but do consider joining the community! Learn more and join here !
The Hall of Men will gather Thursday evening on the commemoration of St Meletius, Archbishop of Antioch, Anno Domini 2026, February 12. David Beutel will present on St. John Henry Newman. St. John Henry Newman (21 February 1801 – 11 August 1890) was an English Catholic theologian, academic, philosopher, historian, writer, and poet. He was previously an Anglican priest, and after his conversion to Catholicism, became a cardinal. Newman's beatification was proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI on 19 September 2010 during his visit to the United Kingdom. His canonization was officially approved by Pope Francis on 12 February 2019, and took place on 13 October 2019. Come and jo in us for the first toast of 2026 at the Hall of Men! If you haven’t seen a Catholic listen to the life story of John Wesley; if you haven’t watched a Protestant learn about Evagrius of Pontus; and if you haven’t seen Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant men sit around a table together and talk theology until midnight . . . then you need to come to the Hall of Men. When The commemoration of St Meletius, Archbishop of Antioch, Anno Domini 2026, February 12. Where The Ladder at 2836 E. Douglas, Wichita, KS 67214 Schedule Doors Open at 7 pm Food is served at 7:30pm Eighth Day Convocation at 8:30pm Presentation and toast by Derek Hale immediately following Convocation. Membership Required? No, but do consider joining the community! Learn more and join today here .
Reflections on the enduring validity of Malcolm Muggeridge's critiques of the media in the 1970s.
An Introduction to Charles Williams by Charles Hefling Commemoration of St Hosea the Prophet Anno Domini 2025, October 17
Commemoration of St Longinus the Centurion Anno Domini 2025, October 16
by Charles Williams Commemoration of St Lucian the Martyr of Antioch Anno Domini 2025, October 15
An Introduction to Charles Williams by Charles Hefling Commemoration of St Cosmas the Hagiopolite Anno Domini 2025, October 14
by C. S. Lewis Commemoration of the Holy Prophet Zacharias, Father of St. John the Forerunner Anno Domini 2025, September 5
by Jason M. Baxter Commemoration of St Lucian the Martyr of Antioch Anno Domini 2024, October 15
by Pseudo-Dionysios Commemoration of St Malachi the Prophet Anno Domini 2024, January 3