Father Thomas Welbers' Homily

In reflecting on this Gospel reading that we just heard, the first thing that stands out for me is that, after giving the Beatitudes as the new commandments of the New Law, which we heard last week, Jesus does not call himself “the light of the world” but he calls us, his followers the light of the world. I think it is significant that he did not say this to a select band of disciples but to “the crowds” – everyone who had gathered to hear him on this mountain top. Which means it applies to us, without exception. You and I are being called by Jesus “the light of the world.” That’s so revolutionary that I wonder how many of us really believe it. So few of us live that way. It takes a lot of faith to believe that you are the light of the world, doesn’t it? I wonder what the world would be like if we really did believe it. Supposing we were to make this as the central, guiding principle of everything we say and do: “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” What would our world be like if we did that? How would your own life change?

The first reading is perfectly paired with the Gospel, because in it Isaiah shows the kind of “good deeds” that are needed in order to be light shining before all. These words were address to the nation of Israel before exile, filled with pride and arrogance, heedless of poverty and oppression right within their midst. Any parallels, perhaps, with our own materialistic, ego-centered society today? Isaiah tells the people of his own day, “If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; if you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted, then light shall arise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.” Is he speaking to us as well?

In the second reading, Paul typifies the humility that is needed in order to be light, that is, to shine with God’s light, not one’s own. “When I came to you” alludes to the events recounted on one of his missionary journeys in the Acts of the Apostles. He was in Athens, the philosophical and intellectual center of the world, and he tried to use philosophical reasoning to teach about Christ to the Athenians. he failed miserably and was deeply humiliated. He went from there to Corinth, a port city about 50 miles west of Athens, a place renowned for its loose living and immorality. There he gave up attempts at logical argument, and simply placed the cross of Jesus Christ at the center of his witness in a spirit of humility. And he – or perhaps better, the Lord working through him – successfully established a thriving and vibrant community of Christians. The value of humility seems to be that it enables us to make sure it is the Lord’s light, not our own, that is shining through us.

There is an old saying, “You can’t attain humility without being humiliated.” Today, perhaps each of us needs to ask ourselves, what is our own experience of humiliation? How do we react to humiliation? How does it affect us? Do we let it make us humble, or do we get prideful, resentful, and spiteful – seeking justification or even revenge?

Last week, we had the annual Together in Mission appeal, and an opportunity for everyone at Mass to make their pledge to help support the Catholic parishes and schools in areas where they are most valuable to our society and yet need assistance to remain open and serving their people. Dr. Karen Kallay, principal of Ascension School in south Los Angeles, told us some deeply moving stories about just what can be accomplished in an area ridden with poverty, crime, and violence, in a school that could not stay open without your Together in Mission contribution.

Today we have a follow-up opportunity to make a pledge, in case you were not here last week, or for some reason were unable to do so. The envelopes and pencils are in the pews. I ask you to prayerfully consider pledging an amount that you can fulfill each month over the course of five months or so. Please print the information legibly, and put the completed pledge form, together with a first installment on your pledge if you wish, in the collection at this Mass.

On behalf of all those whose faith is sustained and supported by the assistance given through Together in Mission, I thank you for your pledge and contribution. By attending to the works of justice for the poor and the oppressed, we are assured by God’s word that this is the way we can truly live as the light of the world. May God bless your generosity.

© 2005 Thomas Welbers