Light has always symbolized life. Every day we wait for the dawn as the messenger of a new beginning.
The theme of light has been present in the histories of peoples and in ancient religions. Jewish tradition celebrates the festival of lights, Hanukkah, which commemorates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem and the liberation from pagan cults. Muslims light candles on the day of the prophet's birth, Mawlid in Arabic or Mevlid Kandili in Turkish. The festival of Diwali, whose name means series of lights, originally a Hindu festival, is also celebrated by several Indian religions to celebrate the victory of good over evil. For Christians, Jesus Christ is the light that illuminates the darkness of the world. Light, therefore, is a reality full of strong symbolism.
But is there a relationship between this symbolism of light and our life?
If light symbolizes life, we can say that we are in relationship with it every time we promote peace and give love to our neighbor, thus illuminating the vicissitudes of personal, family and social life; when we are attentive to what happens around us and ready to respond with good in the different situations in which we find ourselves, capable of giving up sleep, apathy, remaining as vigilant as possible. The decision to inhabit and fully experience time is a choice of love that applies to all human beings.
Sometimes we can also get used to living in the darkness of our heart or settle for the many artificial lights, the various promises of ephemeral happiness and falter. The effort is to continually make a choice that makes us reborn, that of moving from darkness to light, loving and doing good to others.
This year's earthquake in Turkey and Syria, which caused more than 50 thousand victims, has turned the lives of millions of people upside down. Those who survived the catastrophe, entire communities of the place and of other countries, represented points of strength and courage in their efforts to bring immediate aid and give relief to those who lost loved ones, homes, everything, and where the light seemed disappeared forever.
True love can do everything (the Latin poet Virgil already said Omnia vincit amor: love can do everything). If we are sure of this we will not be surprised or crushed by events that may upset us.
