Saturday in the Fifth Week of Lent
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
Mp3: Seeing God
Many college students are just now heading into the final stretch of the semester. This is the time when the papers, projects, and exams are just piling up. For those of us who have experienced this, we can recall the enormous pressure that exists to keep up. For me this was the time to go into cave mode. I would strip my life down to only the essentials in order to get all the work done: study, eating, basic hygiene, and a little sleep. Everything else was put on hold. The bed room was like a cave. The blinds were down, books were piled up, and clothes thrown everywhere. This was the time to get down to the basics…it is survival mode.
Finally, by the Grace of God, those last few weeks came to a successful end. Another semester down and all I wanted to do was sleep! Once the hibernation was over it was time to face the unknown…the chaos that was left behind. Yes, the shades had to be opened and the light must come into my cave. It was never a pretty sight. Light pouring in to reveal the mess.
A lamp unto my feet
The contrast between darkness and light is part of the human experience. We all know the feeling of living in darkness. Sometimes it is our own sins and ignorance which causes this. Other times, we blindly exist in an environment which is without hope. The sad thing is that we can become so used to this experience that we “settle” for mere survival. We may not know any other way to live or we fear the light or change. Nobody likes to confront the messiness of life…it is easier just to live with it.
Any true experience of God brings with it a light. Coming face to face with the living God opens our hearts and minds. We gain knowledge about the Lord, ourselves, and others.
During this coming Holy Week, we should pay special attention to the characters in the Passion of Jesus. These are real people like us. They show us how we respond to the presence of God in our lives.
As His ministry comes to an end, Jesus is beginning to be revealed as more than a prophet or even the Messiah. People respond to this light in different ways. The poor, sick, and marginalized are excited. They embrace having God with them. Others seem to be curious about the whole thing. They ask each other, “What do you think (about Jesus)?” Those who know Jesus and His family are skeptical. And, finally, the Jewish leaders seem to be all up in arms. They are filled with anger at this man who rebukes them. The leaders are also very much afraid of how Jesus’ popularity and authority will effect the Jewish people.
Emmanuel, “God with us,” brings with Him a piercing light. The light of God cuts through all hypocrisy. All hearts are revealed.
God changes us
Coming face to face with God in our lives changes us and we cannot remain the same. Maybe we are filled with excitement, but also fear. Can I change? How much will God ask of me? Will I be happy if I totally follow Him?
As we enter this most sacred time in the Church’s calendar, let us observe carefully the Gospel accounts of Holy Week. How would we respond to the realization that God is present in a way we didn’t expect? These characters in the Scriptures are just like us. It is not easy to stand before the living God.
Jesus is still present today. He is present in the Eucharist, in the Sacraments, in His Church, and in each person created in God’s Image. Encountering the Lord in these ways will change us. It will bring us great peace and joy, while at the same time revealing the darkness that is within our lives. We need not fear this light, for Jesus Christ came to set us free. His presence is an invitation to true freedom. Let us allow the Light into our lives. The only thing we have to fear is the darkness. Light may be difficult to encounter, but it brings with it freedom. And Christ came to set us free!!