I
confess, I don’t currently listen to popular Christian music. Yet I often did in high school, and my
favorite Christian band was the Newsboys.
I was reminded of one of their hits by our readings today. (I will spare you from singing it as
that would not do justice to anyone, including them.) The chorus goes: “Shine, let ‘em wonder what you got, let ‘em
wish that they were not on the outside looking bored. Shine, let it shine before all men, let ‘em see good works
and then, let ‘em glorify the Lord.”
There
is a clear connection in three of our readings between light and charitable
works. The prophet Isaiah states, “If you remove from your midst oppression,
false accusation and malicious speech; if you bestow your bread on the hungry
and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and
the gloom shall become for you like midday.” The psalmist sings, “Light
shines through the darkness for the upright; he is gracious and merciful and
just.” Jesus, in one of his
famous lines declares, “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.”
In the early Church, Christians were easily identified
by the love they showed to others.
They were as visible as a candle in a dark room.
Do you shine in our dark world? When people meet you, do they notice
something different? Do you live
in a way that clearly points to Jesus Christ?
Pope Francis is leading our Church by his integration of
faith and works. More than
anything he says, he joyfully serves.
And everyone recognizes him as a light in the darkness.
One of the recent blessings of my priesthood recently
has been taking part in our Pope Francis Commission. This group, made of normal parishioners, has met a few times
to discuss how we can best serve the needs of our community and parish,
especially those who are in need.
Without an explicit mission, we have really been working
to follow the encouragement of God through Isaiah: “Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the
homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your
own.” “Share your bread with the hungry…” Members of our parish have been volunteering at the Union
Gospel Mission to serve meals there.
We now visit twice a month and could sign up for more if there is interest. “…Clothe
the naked when you see them…”
I have been amazed at the amount of clothes that have been donated so
far in our clothing drive. We have
already sent one jam-packed vehicle to the Damiano center and, as you can see
in the gathering space, we have another pile ready to go. (It was great seeing the bags come in
even between the 8:00 and 10:30 Mass this morning!) Please go through your clothes and give what you don’t use
anymore and some of what you do.
I was struck by the command, “…do not turn your back on your own.” I think we can do better here with a specific group of
parishioners: the homebound. We
have many seniors who would love to get to Sunday Mass. Some of them can’t drive. Others aren’t physically capable of
getting out in the cold and snow.
Still others feel isolated.
Part of the problem in serving these men and women is that many don’t
know who they are. Do you know a
friend, family member or loved one who isn’t able to come on Sundays? Please let us know! And would you be willing to drive a
caravan of seniors to Mass on Sunday?
If so, let Fr. Rich or I know and we can get these names to those who
are working on coordinating rides to Mass.
I pray that the love you have shines in our world. God loves you unconditionally, may this
love spill out with joy and light up a world of darkness.
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