March 26

The Morning Cometh

God called the light “day,” and the darkness He called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. — Gen 1:5 BSB

Six times these words are repeated, emphasizing that God counts His time differently than we do. For Him, the day begins with evening and moves towards the morning. Not first the light, followed by the darkness, but first the darkness, and then the light. God saw that each night would give way to daylight, and that ultimately, all nights and days would culminate in an eternal day without darkness. As St. John saw in Revelation: "There will be no night there, for the Lord God will give them light" (Revelation 22:5). The sun of materialism may set in a black sea, but as long as God is, we can believe that He will create a new heaven and earth. From what seems hopeless, He will bring forth a new creation, and even creation itself will share in the glorious liberty of the children of God. Watchman, what of the night? The morning is coming!

The darkness of life—sin, sorrow, and ignorance—may be overwhelming, but it will give way to the light. The night is nearly over, and the day is almost here. For you, the morning star already shines in the sky. Your soul’s journey is like a child’s education: the early days are hard, but once the basics are mastered, the rewards follow, and darkness turns to day. Be encouraged! Even in death, there is nothing to fear. The disciples caught nothing during the night, but at dawn, they saw Jesus standing on the shore. The dark waves that surround the boat of your life are carrying you toward the morning, where Love has already prepared everything for you. It shall be evening and morning, and soon the eternal day without night will come.

Prayer

O God, the darkness and light are both alike to You, and the night shines as the day. Help us to follow You even through the valley of the shadow and to trust You no matter our circumstances, until the day dawns and the shadows flee away. Amen.