God Loves You; Be the Light of the World

I need your cooperation to try something with me. If you could please close your eyes.  Everyone – including those standing in the back – just lean or hold on to something or someone - Please close your eyes - no peeking.  Are they closed? Please do not open your eyes until I tell you. But, please do not sleep…

I will ask you a few questions but just respond to them in your mind.

Now, sitting there – or standing there - in the darkness – so to speak, how do you feel?  Is it comforting and restful?  Or scary and unsettling?  Would your answer change if I asked you to keep your eyes closed for the rest of the day?  How would it feel to have to feel your way around in total darkness - in the church – at your homes - wherever you go?

Now open your eyes.  Thank you for cooperating. Aren’t you glad you can see? 

… which is something we tend to take for granted… and not appreciate.

Imagine a world NOT being able to see anything.  Even the most safe environment can become frightening and unsettling when it is dark or when lights are turned out.

You See - Jesus used this basic human preference for light as we heard in our gospel reading today to illustrate the impact of His coming into the world… what His becoming one of us really meant – It was like suddenly turning on the light switch - in a world that had been locked in darkness.

It was like – we are blind and because Jesus came and became one of us – now, we can see! – See what? – See the truth about ourselves, about our fellow human being – about our world – See the truth about what life is all about, the truth about how much God loves us – unconditionally. Jesus showed us God’s unfathomable and inexhaustible mercy.  Jesus is the Truth. When Jesus came to be with humanity, his presence with us brought light into dark corners of the mind and soul of humankind.

The scribes and pharisees of Jesus’ time were so blind, in their unbelief and prejudiced ideas that God was right in front of them but they did not recognize Him; they even killed Him. That is why Jesus said: “You look but you do not see; you hear or listen but you do not understand.” (Mt 13:13)  We are all like that at times.

Christ our Lord came among us as the light of the world that we might walk in His light.  And Jesus is asking you and me, “Do we prefer darkness or light?”

That is the deciding question of our life.

So – let us ask ourselves - What situations in your life right now appear to you as a choice between light and darkness?

We have to choose between light and darkness, between good and evil, (sometimes, it is kind of gray and we do not know), between love of God or love of worldly things that keep us from living in the light of Christ. 

In the Gospel Reading today, Saint John explains to us the true cause of so much sadness, suffering and struggles and sin in the world.  He tells us that even though Our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, came to the world, humanity preferred the darkness instead of the light.   Many people turn their backs on God, they sin and act and live their lives as if God does not exist.

As Pope Pius XII once said: "The greatest sin in our generation is that it has lost all sense of sin." – meaning people now think everything is "relative" and can be explained away or rationalized and therefore, people do not feel sorry for the bad things they did and so they do not repent… they do not go to confession anymore and they remain in sin… they remain in darkness.

The late Pope Benedict XVI said in his homily – I quote: “Relativism is, letting oneself be "tossed here and there, carried about by every wind of doctrine". We are building a dictatorship of relativism that does not recognize anything as definitive (meaning - no more absolute truth) and whose ultimate goal consists solely of one's own ego and desires.

The Pope continued: “We, however, as Christians – we have a different goal: which is - the Son of God, the true man. Christ is the measure of true humanism. An "adult" faith is not a faith that follows the trends of fashion and the latest novelty; a mature adult faith is deeply rooted in friendship with Christ. It is this friendship that opens us up to all that is good and gives us a criterion by which to distinguish the true from the false, to distinguish deceit from truth.”

We usually think of Judgment Day in terms of the end of the world or Jesus’ second coming or when we die.

But actually, judgment occurs each day of our lives.  How we live, the choices we make every day, what we do or do not do, is judgment – we judge ourselves… because they have eternal ramification or consequences.  Our choices and our deeds or failure to do what we are supposed to do - determine our eternal destiny. 

So - We make judgment on ourselves by the choices we make every day.  As has been said: “God does not send anyone to hell; rather, we judge ourselves.”

From the Gospel we heard: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

We also heard - “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.” But you see - Believing in Jesus does not mean only an intellectual assent or agreeing being convinced that Jesus is who He says He is.  Even the devil believes that and trembles.

Faith is an act of the will – we were given free will and we have to make a decision to place our trust in God, in Jesus – to have a personal loving trusting relationship – entrusting our life to Him completely.

“Come into the light,” Jesus invites us.  It is a choice for each of us.  If we can get used to darkness, we can also get used to light.

Today – it is what we call Laetare Sunday… the middle of the penitential season of Lent and we are called to Rejoice!  Why?  The Church invites us to reflect on God's love for the world and to be joyful because of it. God loves each and everyone of us, so much so that He gave us His only son… to save us from living in darkness.  God never and will never give up on any of us.  No one is beyond God’s power to heal and save, no matter what you have done, no matter what your past may have been.  God is always faithful even when we are unfaithful.

Today we are invited to say yes to God's love.  God loves us unconditionally; no ifs, no buts. This is the kind of love God has for us. This is the kind of love we should have for one another. This is the kind of love that is lived in heaven.

We were created to live the good life… That is God’s plan for us… to share in God’s divine life of love… even here on earth.   We were created in the image and likeness of God who is love and so our very nature is to love – sacrificial love – giving of ourselves for the good of others… That is what life is all about.

 Just as God so loved the world that gave His only Son – we are called to a life of good deeds prepared for us by the Lord…even our good works is a gift from God, so we cannot boast. Everything is by the grace of God.

 When we change our lives, when we choose to do good – when we choose to follow Christ as our light, we also become light for others.

God does not want us to simply avoid evil or avoid doing bad but more importantly, He invites us to do good. True generosity is what brings us peace and fulfillment to our lives.

Jesus said: “You are the light of the world.  Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”  (Mat. 5:14-16)

So let us ask ourselves - What can you and I do these coming days to bring good news to someone especially those who are hopeless, despairing and troubled?  In other words – how can we be like Christ in being a light in other people’s darkness… or how can our presence in people’s lives serve as a source of goodness, of hope, of love - as Christ is?   

My brothers and sisters in Christ, may the Light of God shine in our hearts so that we might reflect to the world the glory shining on the face of Christ.

Amen.