Weekend Wisdom - August 17-18th, 2024
Is it any wonder that we are each called to be a light on a hill?
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5
The photo above is of a recent power outage in Paris during the Olympic games. The light on the hill is the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur de Montmartre – perhaps a gentle reminder from God of the Light.
The world is a dark and divided place right now. From politics to events that are meant to unify us like the Olympics, we find anything but peace. It’s extremely real—the weight of life, the attack on marriages and families, the exhaustion in our bodies, the pain in our hearts. Bring that to God. Like the prophets and the psalmists, tell Him how you look around at your lack of peace and wonder when He’s going to step in (see Jeremiah 14:19).
Our second reading this weekend from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reminds us that this isn’t the first time in salvation history when life has seemed dark. “Brothers and sisters: Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.”
It is important to remember that as Christians, our job isn’t to change the world – Jesus already did that when he died on the cross and conquered all sin and darkness. Our mission is to live like the world is changed, to live the Word and will of God, to shine Jesus’ light and saving love in the dark and hungry places. To do this we need to steep ourselves in the truth and beauty found in the scriptures, wisdom figures, the Holy Eucharist, grace and mercy in the sacrament of Reconciliation, prayer, and the Holy Spirit, and point others to these same sources of life. Be wary of the sound-byte, and quick to listen, but slow to speak.
This is not to say that our voices don’t matter in civic life. Scripture, Gospel values and tradition all have important roles to play in the formation of our conscience, our voice, and our vote. What it does mean is that we are a people called first to love our God and our neighbor with our whole mind, heart and soul, and while we work toward that consistently, we are to be a people of consideration, temperance, discernment and peace.
Whether we like it or not, as a global society we share this space with other world religions, new age practices and secular apathy. Scripture tells us that unbelievers won’t understand. Moreover, responding with offense doesn’t often teach – responding with mercy and compassion do. Ask the Holy Spirit to help with this. Give God some room to be truthful - He really did die on a cross and His life set ours free whether we are ready to grab that freedom yet or not. The war against evil and death has been won, even if the battles continue around us – assassination attempts and drag queen art included. Jesus died on the Cross and defeated all darkness.
As the priest raises the Eucharist at every Mass and says, “Through Him, with Him and in Him” we relive Jesus breaking himself in order to conquer sin and Satan’s claims in the world. As Jesus says in the Gospel this weekend, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." Jesus knew the metaphor we would need to understand the kind of sustenance his body could be for us - is there anything more inspiring or comforting than the smell of bread, the sound or feel of its crackling crust, or the satisfaction of that first carb-laden bite? We must live like Jesus, sharing him as bread come down from Heaven – warm, inviting, satisfying, and full of beauty and life – and name Jesus when people ask us why. It is in listening and humility, service and sacrifice that Jesus gave himself to win the war. In that same manner our very lives can preach peace, feed the hungry, and light the world with the true Way, Jesus.
May your week be full of God’s light,
Amberly
Director of Communications and Technology