Rise and Shine

Homily for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
26 January 2014

          Did you ever notice how the change of one letter, one word or one phrase could alter the meaning of an entire document? More importantly, did you notice the change from our First Reading to the Gospel?

        Most likely, you didn’t. But don’t worry . . . I didn’t notice it at first, either. But it’s a change which gives us great insight into what the ministry of Jesus is all about.

        In our First Reading, Isaiah mentions that “upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.” Yet, when Matthew quotes the Prophet in his Gospel, we hear: “on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen.” Not much of a change on the first look, but, taking a second glance, there’s something more than meets the eye.

        Our main difference is between “has shone” and “has arisen”. “To shine” and “to rise” are two different things. Think about that morning greeting we’ve all received at least once in our lives: One must first rise before he or she can shine.

        Yes, we can all agree that Jesus is “[our] light and [our] salvation”, “the light that shines in the darkness”, and the “light to the nations” (as we heard last week). Yet we must also remember those examples of the Old Testament by which the Light has shone for the people of Israel in so many ways: the column of fire which led them through the desert, the light of the midday sun given to Joshua until the end of his battle with the Amorites at Gibeon, or the light shining those eight days of the Maccabean revolt when there was enough oil for one night, among other examples.

        But that light had to come from somewhere; that flame needed to rise from a position to guide, protect and illuminate. The Light had to rise before it could shine.

        Our Gospel passage today finds us at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. These are those charismatic, quiet and sacred moments in which Jesus begins to draw all people to Himself. Here is where the Light rises amidst the darkness of the world’s sin and confusion. Though the happening of the Incarnation introduces the Light into the world, this is the moment, at the beginning of the ministry of Jesus, where the Light rises, as some Biblical commentators suggest.

        And this is where Andrew, Peter, James and John meet Jesus – at the dawn of His public ministry. As Christ, the Light, dawns upon the Earth in bringing the eternal love of God to His creation in the flesh, so that same Light rises to scatter the dominion of sin and death from all that is created. This dawning of learning Who this Jesus is is not something that is necessarily to be kept within the pages of Scripture. Rather, just as the knowledge of Who Jesus is dawned in the minds and hearts of those He called two thousand years ago, so, now, we must allow the Light of Christ to dawn, to rise in our lives. His Light can’t shine if we don’t let it rise.

        If we have failed to allow that Light which saves us to dawn, then we will not be able to have that Light to shine to guide us to the fullness of salvation. If we keep blocking the Light due to our sinfulness, our pride, our dancing with temptation, then we need to destroy those things which block the Light from shining through.

        When was the last time we availed ourselves of the graces of the Sacrament of Reconciliation?

        When was the last time we came an extra fifteen minutes early to Mass to spend time in prayer?

        When was the last time we stayed after Mass to offer a thanksgiving to God for all the blessings He’s given to us?

        When was the last time we stopped by the church to make a short visit to the Blessed Sacrament?

        When was the last time we turned off the devices we own, powered down our lives and spent some time in quiet solitude with our God?

        My brothers and sisters, through our Baptism and participation at this Mass, we allow the Light of the Lord to once again rise within our lives, especially through Word and Sacrament. Yet, the sinful ways that we cling to continue to diminish how bright that Light will be to guide us from this life to the next. Jesus, as he did with the brothers on the Sea of Galilee, invites us to follow Him . . . BUT we have to abandon all the tricks of the smokescreens and mirrors that deflect the true Light of God from entering into our lives, making it impossible for the Light to guide us; making it impossible for us to follow the Lord.

        My friends, have we truly allowed the Light to rise in our lives?

        If we have, have we truly allowed the Light to shine in our lives?

        If we haven’t, what must we do to allow the Light to scatter the darkness in our lives?

        How do we allow the darkness of temptation and sin to block that divine Light from penetrating our deepest self?

        Do we, then, rise and shine to become the light which guides others to the full knowledge, compassion, and love of God?

        Or do we permit ourselves to lay dormant, being deceived by the smokescreens and mirrors, the “razzle dazzle performances” that either society or the Devil bring before us?

        As we will be reminded next week with the celebration of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, the Light of Christ has dawned, has risen in the world with the Incarnation. Now, through His ministry, He allows that Light to shine. And not just two thousand years ago, and not just with Andrew and Peter and James and John, but now, in January of 2014, calling each one to follow the Light so as to shine that same Light into the hearts of all mankind.

        To be a light, then, is to first receive the Light. And so, we pray:

O Holy Spirit of God, take me as Your disciple: guide me, illuminate me, sanctify me. Bind my hands that they may do no evil; cover my eyes that they may see it no more; sanctify my heart that evil may not dwell within me. Be You my God; be You my guide. Wherever You lead me I will go; whatever You forbid me I will renounce; and whatever You command me in Your strength I will do. Lead me, then, unto the fullness of Your truth. Amen.

 






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Enjoy the journey . . .

(I apologize if the homily is a little choppy or doesn't flow too well. Writing a homily and trying to maintain spiritual focus while ill is a bit of a challenge.)