We shine brightest when we take Jesus to heart
by Sister Francis Bangert
The invitation given to us in the Entrance Antiphon for this Fourth Sunday in Lent is “ Rejoice. Be joyful all who were in mourning.” And the following Scripture passages give us reason to rejoice.
“I am the light of the world — whoever follows me will have the light of life,” Jesus says in the Gospel Acclamation.
In the Book of Samuel we are reminded that humans see life differently than God sees. Humans judge by appearances — God sees into the heart. So David, the youngest of Jesse’s sons and least likely to be eligible for kingship according to human standards, is anointed king of Israel.
In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians we learn that growth in faith is a process, a movement from darkness to light, from fruitless works to works of goodness, righteousness, and truth. It is Jesus, the Light who leads us to a new, richer, deeper vision of life’s journey.
Finally, John’s Gospel relates the story of a man, blind from birth, who meets Jesus who heals him. While his physical blindness is an external darkness, in his heart, he lives in the light — he “sees” Jesus; he believes in Jesus’ power to heal. On the other hand, it is the Pharisees, the teachers of the Law of Moses, presumably the enlightened who are blind.
Jesus IS the light of the world. We, his followers, have cause for rejoicing to live in that light … to see with the heart; to strengthen a relationship with Him, yielding the works of light and building the city of God.
How might you let Jesus’ light shine through you so that as we again sing the Easter Alleluia it will be truly from the heart?
- Promote the work of local shelters: financially, as meal providers, as a volunteer in other capacities
- Visit a resident in a nursing home who receives no visitors
- Participate in events that broaden your understanding of differences
- In conversations, set aside partisanship and hostility in the search for truth
- Treat those with disabilities with respect, dignity, gentleness
- Examine and change your attitudes if necessary, to treat with respect those whose skin color, language, customs, religious practices differ from yours
- Compliment the goodness you see in another
- Provide snow removal for a neighbor in need
- Keep a song in your heart
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.
Fran, thank you for the gentle reminder to share Jesus with the world we live in.
Blessings.