Search
-
May 11, 2022“I am the light of the world, says the Lord; Whoever follows me will have the light of life.” –John 8
Recently at the Easter Vigil, we witnessed the lighting of the Paschal Candle. Then one by one we gave the light to each other. That sacred gesture represents our sharing of the light of Jesus in an interpersonal relationship.
We all know from experience that friendship is a gift to be tended and nurtured. It is living and vibrant. In nurturing our friendship with God or with another person, we may experience misunderstanding and hurt as well as love and forgiveness.
Last week I visited the surgeon who gave me a hip replacement. I commented to him that my hip is the only part of my body that never aches. He responded, “Your hip is artificial. Nothing artificial hurts.” While I was reflecting on both Scripture readings for today, I thought of our relationship with God, our families, our co-workers, the needy who surround us. Perhaps, our love is not genuine but artificial. Or hopefully we, like Jesus, accept the pain of misunderstanding and continue to deepen our experience of God.
We know that God became human—Jesus—out of pure love for us.
No judgement call was on the divine agenda. We, on the other hand, decide how we want to be judged. That all depends on whether or not we want a loving relationship with God. Just as Jesus came into the world as light, he wants us to be a light for ourselves and then for others. Judgement and light—two paths, two decisions.
Both in our friendship with God and in our interpersonal relationships we have to decide. We can be lights of understanding, patience, generosity, and all those gifts we receive through the sacraments. Yes, our lifestyle of commitment, like that of Jesus, is sure to bring pain and misunderstanding. However, our lives, unlike my hip, are not artificial. They are alive with grace. Like Barnabas and Saul, we are also commissioned to spread the word—maybe not verbally—but certainly by our actions. Just as they were sent by the Holy Spirit, so are we.
No matter who speaks the truth, it is truth. No matter who sparks the light, it is light. As we journey through Jesus’ life in the gospel, He hands us the light and gives us the truth. The decision on how we are to be judged in living in light and truth is up to each one individually. If we relinquish our artificiality, or negative criticism, we then allow our God to give us the life of the Resurrection.
