From the Pastor’s desk— November 19, 2023
Darkness and Light,
With the winter coming and daylight savings time in full swing, our world and our readings from Scripture come together. The added hours of darkness have many of us wishing for more light. This desire for more light is the desire of every heart that has seen the darkness of sin in our world.
Perhaps the most attractive thing about our Catholic faith is the light it brings into our lives and our world. Light is the first thing God made in creation and today our gospel reminds us darkness is the last experience for those who do not use the gifts God has given them. As William Watkinson said, “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.”
We can think of the 10 commandments or the great commandment as steps to the light, each one adding light in our world. Don’t we all know that lies and stealing, cursing and jealousy add more darkness in our lives just as truth and kindness, respect and love add light? Don’t we know that no one has ever loved us as much as Jesus did, giving His life?
As the hours of sunshine get less and less, cannot this be an invitation for us to add more light to the world, whether it is helping our parents more, forgiving and fighting less, helping others who struggle with the darkness of sickness, exclusion, or rejection? The desire for light is practically a universal theme with all religions, what is different for us as Catholics is that we have regular access to the source of light through the light of God’s Word, the light of the sacraments (especially reconciliation/confession), the light of prayer, the light of service, the light of relationships and the light of a sacrificial love that overcomes all darkness.
This is God’s identity to bring light to darkness, this is Jesus’ mission, and ours too. It is not enough to search for God’s light, it is not enough to have God’s light, we are called to share God’s light. If we wish to have light, we must give away the light, like love; the more we give it away, the more we will have it. That is what happens in every Easter vigil when the one light of the paschal candle is lit and soon it spreads to every corner of the church, and all can see.
Next week is the end of our Church year with the feast of Christ the King. This week is the time to get ready for that celebration and perhaps there is no better way to do that than to light a new light in the things we do and the things we say, to let His light shine through us. If the light of His love of His Sacred Heart shines in us, there is no darkness that can overcome us.
Parochial administrator
With a heart for Mission,
Fr. Ray