Sunday Homily, January 20, 2nd in Ordinary Time
Readings: Isaiah 49, 3-6; Psalm 40; 1 Corinthians 1, 1-3; John 1, 29-34.
Isaiah: Again we have one of Isaiah’s consoling messages. This message focuses more on being called. Remember, the writers of this book lived about 800 years before Christ.
I want to talk about Yahweh’s promise, "I will make you a light to the nations."
A Light to the Nations? Me?
As many of you have noticed, after Mass & coffee a good percentage of our community reconvenes over at Costco on Central. Where else can you get such a great free lunch?
When I am not watering trees after Mass, I normally drop Rosemary at the entrance, go fill the car with gas, and then wait for her in the parking lot while listening to Prairie Home Companion. I love that program and almost always find myself laughing my head off.
Last Sunday Rosemary and I had gone to do our weekly shopping as usual. I had filled the car with gas and was sitting in the parking lot. At some point I noticed that an elderly man was wandering around the south side parking lot where I was sitting. He had passed me already three or four times. He would walk by me heading toward the Central side of the lot, then return. Shortly he would do it again. He had a couple of bags in his arms. I’m watching him, thinking he must be confused, but I’m not doing anything.
Finally Rosemary arrives, I start up the car, and while we are pulling away I point out to her the man wandering around the parking lot. I tell her I wonder if he is lost, confused, or suffering from dementia or worse.
What does she say? "Let me see if he needs some help." So we turn around and she gets out. They talk and together begin to walk around the parking lot. I wait some more and finally she comes back. She had helped him look for his car, which he said was a white Infinity. Since together they still could not find the car, she informed the Cosco staff, who said they would help him.
This is it. This is what Yahweh is talking about when he says, "I will make you a light to the nations." It does not mean lightning is going to strike. It does not mean the other guy. When I grew up the Christophers were a Catholic group that intended to light one candle instead of cursing the darkness. Light one little candle was the theme. I remember as a kid going with my dad to a rally in the Cotton Bowl, of all places. It was evening, the lights were turned off, and everyone lit a candle. I can still remember how beautiful it was.
Lighting the candle does at least two things.
1. It touches the spirit of the person who receives the light. That elderly man must have been touched when he saw Rosemary come across the parking lot to help him. I was.
2. The effect is contagious. When the person’s spirit is touched, he becomes a light and touches someone else. So instead of the elderly man being angry and frustrated, he is peaceful and gracious.
I was rather confounded that I never thought about getting out and helping the elderly gentleman, but I was delighted that Rosemary immediately suggested she help him when she heard my thoughts.
How are you a light to the nations?
AUDIO: http://mysite.verizon.net/reso7rjy/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/2008-01-20.mp3