"I am the light of the world...."

Good morning.  Peace to you all.  Remember that Lent is about reconciliation.  Reconciliation does not have a chance if we do not surrender our pride and our whole selves to God’s Will.

 

Today, we read John 8:12. Jesus calls Himself the Light of the world.  Fr. Mark asks us, “Do you turn to Jesus when you need light and guidance?”

 

I had a telling conversation with my eldest daughter last night before we all retired.  We were talking about a Dr. Seuss book that I had just read my grandson.  It was a cute and very odd little tale about Zooks and Yooks and was actually a parable about the Cold War of the 20^th Century.  Both the Zooks and the Yooks were caught up in their very minor differences and were prepared to defend them to the death – the death of both populations.  Rather than turn to God, the Almighty, they turned to darkness choosing violence over understanding and peace.

 

When you are in darkness, strife, turmoil, under attack, ridiculed, who do you turn to?  Are you a Yook or a Zook and begin defending yourself with bigger and more technologically advanced devices, louder arguments, lawsuits?  Or, do you value reconciliation with your brother or sister more than your own pride, your own possessions, your own land, your own country, your own business?  Do you courageously and honestly seek reconciliation?

 

Don’t you recognize, yet, that your first allegiance is to God?  All your possessions, this great but very confused United States, even your spouse and family and business are gifted to you from God.  They are God’s to nurture or to take.  The Greatest Commandments are that we should love God first and completely and love our neighbor as ourselves.  Violence is a clear indication that you value these gifts more than you value living in the Light.  Jesus went so far as to say, “If you approach the altar but have a grievance with your brother, put down your gifts, go and reconcile with your brother, then return and worship.”  Reconciliation supersedes worship.  In fact, worship is imperfect if you are not reconciled.  Put God before yourself.  Put light before darkness.

 

So, when you harbor ill will against someone else – regardless who is in the wrong – you violate the Greatest Commandments.  And, actually, you have turned away from God preferring darkness to light.  You are on a journey toward death.

 

Pride kills.

 

Light brings life.

 

Go seek reconciliation – and don’t worry if you get slapped in the face by an ungrateful and blind brother.  Remember that you were just there yourself.

 

 

Pray.  Pray for reconciliation with those closest to you, with your neighbors, within our country, between all countries.

 

In Him and always in His love,

Lou