Do you suppose that the candy making industry is going to take an economic loss this Halloween? So many communities have cancelled trick or treat times. The suggestion has even been made to cancel the “trunk or treat” events that many churches and other groups have sponsored in the past. I am sure there will be some disappointed youngsters with empty buckets this Halloween. Adults will not have the children’s spooky buckets to raid for chocolate. My children and grandchildren have always loved the Halloween parties and dressing up in costume. It was all in good fun with nothing horrific or evil in mind. My niece was actually born on October 31. Her father called his “little spook” in her early years, but her sweet and gentle nature always gave a lie to the nickname. Scary things can be a lot of fun if they are not real. Watching Godzilla stamp on Tokyo was always more silly than scary. The real frightening things are to be found in war and persecution. The evil that we can do to each other is far more horrific than any scary movie. Children dressed in costumes and filling their buckets with candy may distress moms and dentists, but a good brushing of their teeth solves the problem. Hate, anger and prejudice are not cured so easily. But, like the pretend monsters, the real monsters cannot stand in the light. To quote the Gospel of John, “The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can’t put it out.” Jesus, the light of the world shines out through his gospel to light the dark corners of our society and brings light to our souls. We do not have to be afraid of the darkness because the light is always inside us. In our own smaller way we also are the light of the world and the Jesus light shines out from us