Light to Others

I am sure you have heard some of the following clichés, “Don’t just talk the talk, but walk the walk and the famous one that is attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach the Gospel and use words if necessary.”  I bring these cliché’s to mind because Jesus challenges us to let our light shine before others and we are the light of the world.  Today that is more of a challenge than ever.

The challenges can be personal, at home, at work, at school and even on a societal level.  The challenge personally is to face my own weaknesses, foibles, temptations and even my own sins and do my best to move towards perfection.  Everyone is called to holiness, to live a life of virtue.  Many of us struggle with pride, anger, lack of patience, lust, greed, laziness, or any of life’s little or big addictions.  Honesty and surrender to God in all things is the beginning of healing and a movement towards righteousness.  Sometimes these challenges last a life time and that’s ok since the life of a Christian is fighting the good fight and finishing the race well (c.f. St. Paul 2 Tim 4:7).

Being a light to others and being Jesus to them also presents challenges for the young, especially those in High School and College.  There are so many pressures coming from everywhere for our young.  Society tells them one thing and the Gospel tells them another.  I taught and coached in High School, don’t be fooled – the young have many pressures in trying to live up to expectations from home, at school, from their peers, trying to fit in, the temptation of drugs and alcohol and on and on it goes.  However, with a good strong moral background our young can face these obstacles with the Christian dignity that is theirs through baptism and the moral compass instilled by you their parents.  I am also a realist and I realize that many succumb to the temptations of growing up, sometimes the best we can do is pray and hope that it is just a phase and that our young will eventually choose the better part, as a great majority wind up doing.  I encourage all the youth here today never be ashamed of Jesus and His teachings and the good things your parents, coaches, and teachers have taught you.  You are loved more than you can imagine, fight that good fight as St. Paul urges all of us.

Finally I will share with you a story of a good friend who at work proclaims the Gospel both in his words and actions.  My friend Tom is a union electrician and he often shares with me what happens at work.  Often times it is witnessing to others.  I know what it is like to work in the field (being a former union laborer) and let’s be honest, I remember our language and conversation was not always the best.  This is not to put anyone down, many of the guys I worked with and the guys Tom has worked with were and are holier than us.  But, it was on these jobs were if Tom heard others cursing or telling unsavory stories he would ask them to stop and that if Jesus was standing in their company would they use the same language or tell the same stories.  Some of the guys dismissed Tom, but others were convicted and soon enough prayer times began with the fellas at break and lunch and the stories went from unsavory to biblical stories, stories about family, the Church etc.  Tom let a little light shine and it affected others in a positive way.

We can do the same as Tom and be examples of holiness.  Since I am a former teacher and still a teacher in some way I will give you a little bit of homework.  I challenge you whether you are young, middle aged or elderly to be a light to others.  Do not give in to the temptations, be it at school, work, or amongst friends.  Show yourself a Christian, a good Catholic by the way you present yourself (your deeds) and also by preaching the Good News (sharing with others the life of Christ).  As any good teacher I will be collecting the assignment next week, God bless you, Fr. John