Monday word

25th Monday B (25 Sep 2006) Pr 3. 27-34; Ps 15; Lk 8. 16-18
Homily of Fr. Paul Panaretos, S.J.
Light Link

I’m wondering if many don’t notice or if they are uncomfortable with Luke’s Jesus and his emphasis on putting into practice the faith one decides to call one’s own. To decide to believe is important; it’s where believers begin. How-ever, Luke’s Jesus goes beyond deciding for faith to living it, which may put off some who consider faith is a one-time decision not a way of life. Jesus’ phrase, Take care...how you hear, is about faith, namely arranging one’s life around Jesus and his preaching the word of the kingdom.

Jesus enlightens us to see more clearly what is real and what is illusory, to notice when we prefer the illusory over real. One way we prefer what is illusory is to refuse to allow the light of Christ given us to overflow and touch others.

Refuse no one the good on which [a person] has a claim when it is in your power to do it for [another]. That line from Proverbs may encourage us this way: Refuse no one the light of Christ. . .when it is in your power to [shine] it [on another].

In Christ’s light we realize how patient God is with us. In Christ’s light we realize how much God blesses us. It is Christ’s light which moves us to keep others from being in darkness. That is no one-time decision of the mind. It is faith in action which our Creator and Lord bids us enact daily. Christ’s light lovingly links Christ to us and us to others in order that others may encounter Christ, too. Such a loving link shatters the human definition of obligation, and empowers us to act in faith and be light.