FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD…..That is not some pious saying by a politician or a T.V. Celebrity.  These are the words of Jesus Himself.  YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.  Because you are a Christian you have been chosen to shine your light of faith before mankind.  YOU…that’s right, YOU!  Now isn’t that great? ….. Not me …you say!  I am not the flashy type.  Well will see about that.

Some years ago the BBC did a documentary on Mother Theresa of Calcutta.  They wanted to bring to their audience that Mother Theresa was dong God’s work.  Well, a little miracle happened.

They took their cameras into the hospital for the incurables.  Every kind of disease you can think of was there.  They told the sisters that it was too dark and nothing would come out on the T.V. Camera screen.  They took their pictures anyway, and in reality, they were hoping that the pictures would not come out – as the people looked too gruesome. Then they went outside, where the curable patients were.  They didn’t look so bad and eventually they would be cured and leave the hospital.  They more pictures out there.  When they processed the film, the inside pictures came out and the outside ones did not!  The camera people said that this couldn’t happen – but it did.  The only film they could use was that of the incurables, not the ones of those who really were not too bad off.

Today is a good time to look at what is really important in our lives. Not by the world’s standards but by God’s standards.  Think for just a minute:  if you died today….what would your friends remember about you in ten years from now?  There are a lot of things you have done in life, but which of them was really important?  Some look great to us at the time and others, though they aren’t clamorous, will really tell the story of our lives.  These are the things that most people don’t know about you, but God does!

For example:  you could be head of the parish council;  you could be the pastor of this parish, or you could be the CEO of some large corporation.  Ten years from now people probably won’t know how to pronounce your name!  Or…. you could be part of the St Vincent de Paul Society and visit one or two people regularly in their homes….because they are old or sickly and cannot get out.  No one will know about this – except you and God.  Maybe you could tutor a little child or help a sick person…. and no one will know…..except God.

Jesus is talking to each of us today.  MAKE GOOD USE OF YOUR TIME AND TALENTS.  DON’T USE THEM FOR RECOGNITION BY YOUR FRIENDS, THAT IS YOUR REWARD AND THAT IS THE END OF IT.  Do them for others, and God will give you the recognition that will last.  YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD….not of just some small group of friends.  YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH….you are what makes the world go around!  You are not meant by God to shine before two or three people.  He wants you to shine for a long time and not for your own glory.,…but for His glory.  The rewards down the line will not be a few moments of applause, but gratitude from God for all eternity – for what you did to the least of your brothers and sisters and for those who can’t even remember your name.

I think the Cistercian monks have the right idea when it comes to a funeral.  The have not coffin, just an open litter. No name on the grave marker – as it isn’t important what people think, but what God thinks of us for all eternity!               

 Remember, when the Lord looks good, then you look good.