Sunday Homily, February 9, 2014, 5th Ordinary Time, Cycle A
Readings:
Isaiah 58, 7-10, Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless.
Psalm 112, The just man is a light in darkness to the upright.
1 Corinthians 2, 13-16, I came to you in weakness and fear.
Matthew 5, 13-16, You are the light of the world.
Isaiah reminders, again—
Author: This is Isaiah #3, the composer of chapters 56-66. Isaiah #3 lives after the Israelites have returned to the ruined city of Jerusalem. It is a very depressing experience after the exuberance of being allowed to depart from slavery in Babylon. Like returning to your shattered home after a tornado, hurricane, or forest fire.
Date: Ca. 555 before Christ, the composition. The Jewish people of Jerusalem are home again.
Subject: A great day will come for you Jews. You will be a bright light at dawn and your wound will be healed (of your defeat and slavery), if you take care of your neighbor, providing food, clothing, and shelter. The corporal works of mercy.
Do-ers and Be-ers
I would like to propose this morning that all the world is divided into two groups. Group one is the doers. Group two is the beers. I know, a bunch of you guys are ready to sign up for the beers. Me, too. I’ll get you in cheap if you are nice to me. I know, dream on.
I would further suggest that both of these types of persons are okay. In fact, both are lights to the world. The readings today say that you are a light to the world if you feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless. Excellent, I buy that. We try to do that as a community.
In fact, I have an example of a person who wants to remain nameless because she is embarrassed. However, if you marry a priest, all bets are off. No respect, no refuge.
This nameless person and her girl friend, Barbara, take Meals on Wheels to about a dozen poor people in North Dallas every Thursday. Heat, cold, or snow, as was the case last week, they bring food to these people, some of whom are home bound. They know each person by name and there is a mutual caring love.
They are doing what Isaiah and Matthew are exhorting us to do. And they are lights to my world.
The second group brings light to our world just by their being here, by their very presence. Three examples of what I mean.
Monday evenings Rosemary & I go dancing at the Farmers’ Branch Senior Center. Last Monday there were about 50 pairs of people, despite the cold and crazy weather. The folks are mostly singles with a few couple mixed in These people are lights. They are lights to me just by being there.
There is even one lady who comes all the time. She is blind. I hope to dance with her one evening. She is a light perhaps to the whole room.
Secondly, last week Rosemary & I were honored to have the chance to coordinate the wedding at TCU of a charming couple. Just their presence, their joy and their enchantment were lights to me and to a large group of people in that chapel.
Yesterday I sat down with another couple, in fact, our Rebecca Senter and her fiancé Rob Scott. We are planning their April wedding. I am so touched just by their presence.
Finally, look around this community. You have to go no further than to Leo and Cowboy Cole, Emma and Zoe, Buddy and Tori, Chloe and Charlotte, to say nothing of Harper and Sienna and Brooklyn when they are here. Lights to the world? Absolutely. Totally, lights to me.
So what makes for a light to the world? Two things, not just one. First of all, obviously, we are invited and challenged to care for our neighbor. Excellent.
However, I would include people just as they are. You, I, all of us are lights. How so? Ever come away from an encounter with a person feeling happier, more peaceful, even delighted? The light has struck.
So how does it feel to be a light just by being here?
And again, who gives you light?
