Is. 58:7-10; Ps. 112:4-9; 1 Cor. 2:1-5; Mt.5:13-16
We are called from darkness to light, from evil to good, from sin to holiness. Having visited Assisi in France you discover from the top of the monastery as you drive up you see the surrounding villages below. The monastery is cold and dark with solid walls of stone. Once when standing above looking below at the village Saint Francis commented that he wanted to be down in the light where the people lived. We can all create our dark walls seeking comfort and safety, but it takes courage to shine the light of our soul with a heart of love for others.
The light of life shines through the action of love. Peter was asked three times by Jesus “Do you love me?” Each time he commanded him to demonstrate his love by the act of tending to his sheep. The light of life rests on the act of love for the other. Confirmation of a Catholic is the command to shine the light of life we have received on the face of Jesus as he comes to us in the other before us.
Isaiah also reveals to us the law of reciprocity where it is in giving that we receive not by our standards but by God’s great love for his servant. When we become a light of life to the world by our love of other “then” we receive the gift of healing, vindication, he hears our cry for help and “the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard”. What a consoling prayer to know how much more the Lord does for his own than we can ever give of ourselves. We cannot outgive the source of all life who we call our God.
St. Paul teaches us that if we want to be good evangelizers it does not begin with “persuasive words of wisdom but with a demonstration of Spirit and power”. As baptized Christians we have received the gift of the Spirit and through this gift comes the power to act for the good of the other in a spirit of love and generosity. There is no small act of love and generosity that does not receive its just reward from God who is witness to what is in our hearts and in our actions. This is how we are to give the light of life that we have received from God. Persuasive words can “close the deal” in confirming our faith but it is the acts of love and generosity that open up the heart and bind us in the trinity of God, self and other.
The gospel raises what some may say is a contradiction. It says “your light must shine before others that they may see your good deeds” while scripture also says in Mathew 6:3 “when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” indicating the importance of not drawing attention to yourself. The argument is then that if no one knows except God how can others “see your good deeds and give glory to God”. The key here is that the good that we do in secrecy we will not know how far it reaches in the lives of others just as the light of a lamp spreads its light to distant corners beyond its surrounding space. The ones who lay in the darkness of those corners can see the light even when we do not see them in the darkness.
There is a question that is often posed as individuals approach the age of retirement. When is the right time to retire? Some finds themselves retiring early only to discover they cannot adjust, become melancholic, experience a darkness and must return to the workforce. Those that do retire and “thrive” have not lost their sense of purpose not by what they do but by who they are. They are a servant of the Lord for God is not done calling on them. The light of life continues to shine by the giving of themselves that in return through the law of reciprocity gives them life and purpose.
Can we “retire” from the “work” of God’s calling? To retire by origin of the word is “to withdraw” and who wants to withdraw from the light of life coming from God. Even in death our work is not done as Padre Pio would say he hoped to do much more after his death in serving God than he could in this life. God’s work is never done. To choose to retire from the light is to find ourselves in the darkness of the evil one. This is not a promotion for “workaholics” who neglect other goods in a life out of balance. God’s temperance is our guiding force to know our limits as we trust in God.
The light of life is a life driven by purpose in which we discover God is at the helm and we are blessed to shine the light of his love from the bow of the ship. We go forth trusting in God with the guidance of the Holy Spirit ready to respond when Jesus comes calling. This is the life of discipleship which we are all called by our baptism. When do we retire that is to withdraw from the light of life? Never, for all eternity.
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