As Jesus concludes his public ministry, he says:
“Now my soul is troubled. So shall I say: ‘God, save me from this hour’?
No; for this is the reason I have reached this hour.”
John 12:27
Some Ideas to Contemplate:
- In this passage by the John Gospel Writer, Jesus—Master Mystic, Healer, Teacher, Wayshower—has a distinctly human moment, experiencing a dark night of the soul. Yet, no matter what Jesus will face, he still trusts God (Higher Power, Supreme Energy, Divine Life Essence, etc.), the Source of Goodness, Grace, and Guidance. While Jesus does not enjoy feeling angst, he will not let fear or condemnation constrain him as he lives the ultimate purpose of his ministry.
- A dark night of the soul is a temporary crisis of faith. It offers us a spiritual time-out that can lead to new life, though only some people will invest their spiritual energy to move beyond the “darkness” of:
- character flaws;
- destructive behavior;
- immense fear;
- profound failure or defeat;
- tragic loss;
- unanswered prayer; and/or
- unshakeable grief.
- When we reach a dark night, we may feel lost, because everything familiar, even if it was toxic, is gone. Furthermore, we cannot distinguish what is happening now, or more frightening sometimes, what will happen next. Still, we can remember that “familiar” is not necessarily healthy or secure. So, if we are willing to pause and turn within, we discover that in darkness there is seeing. We begin to notice a richer, more rewarding path of self-expression and fulfillment. In accepting, integrating, and transforming difficult truths, we release resistance to more fully expressing our pure soul essence, the Christ, just as Jesus did.
Practices for the Week:
- Remember: You are a spiritual being with a radiant soul, living in a sacred body temple, having human experiences.
- Reflect on the purpose you are meant to live now.
- Illustrate, journal, and/or record any resistance you feel about this.
- Then discern how to gently dissolve that resistance to transform your life.
© 2026 – Rev Jenn Sacks – All rights reserved.
Photo by moxumbic from DepositPhotos.
Recent Comments