Homily Outline Combining Resources

Homily outline on Called to be Light (taking 1^st path, above)

• Light illuminates darkness
  • Think back to the last time you stood in darkness
    • What were you feeling in that space?
    • Fear? Calm? Peace?
  • Darkness has a way of making us feel enveloped in a nothingness that we cannot see
  • In absolute darkness, you cannot even see your hand in front of your face!
  • Light illuminates the darkness
    • Even the faintest flicker of a candle helps us see
    • The brighter the light, the dimmer the darkness
    • An overabundance of light can force us to turn our eyes away
• Light reflects, absorbs, scatters
  • Light reflects https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/48-reflection-of-light
    • Think of standing near still water, seeing your own reflection in the water
    • Occurs when incoming light “bounces off an object”
    • Reflection is caused by a combination of the size of wavelengths and the type of object receiving the light (smooth or rough)
    • Light reflects at the same angle it is received
  • Light absorbs https://science.nasa.gov/ems/03_behaviors
    • Recall walking across a parking lot on a warm, summer day
    • “Photons from incident light hit atoms and molecules and cause them to vibrate”
    • Darker objects absorb more light, emitting heat known as thermal energy
  • Light scatters http://www.atmo.arizona.edu/students/courselinks/spring08/atmo336s1/courses/fall13/atmo170a1s3/1S1P_stuff/scattering_of_light/scattering_of_light.html
    • Scattering occurs when light bounces off an object in a variety of directions
    • Molecules in the air, for example, can scatter light
• Jesus says, “You are the light of the world”
  • Is this just a spiritual aspiration? Or is this something we can actually live?
  • Matt 5:14-16: “…No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket…”
  • Light reflects
    • Jesus says, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12)
    • As followers of Jesus, we are called to reflect his light in the world
    • We become a reflection, an imitation of Jesus
    • Are we open to encountering Jesus, or there still some rough parts about us that might dim the light of Christ?
  • Light absorbs
    • Jesus says, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer” (John 12:35)
    • As followers of Jesus, we are invited to absorb the promise of life that is offered
    • The more time we spend with Jesus, the more our hearts, minds, and spirits are open
    • Fresh encounters with Jesus have the power to shake those parts of ourselves that need to be made new
  • Light scatters
    • Jesus says, “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:5)
    • As Jesus calls believers into the Beloved Community, he entrusts them with a mission to share Good News throughout the world
    • As disciples, we should never want to hold on to the Good News for ourselves
    • Our mission as Church is to share light, life, and love
• Isaiah says, “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn” (Isa 58:8)
  • Becoming more like Jesus, who is the light of the world, is our way of bringing hope to a hurting world
  • Feeding the hungry, caring for the afflicted, housing the homeless, clothing the naked are acts of mercy and justice
    • Such actions share light
    • Such actions absorb pain and bring about healing
    • Such actions are reflections of Jesus’ own care for the hurting
  • “Then your light shall rise in the darkness, and your gloom shall become like midday” (Isa 58:10)
    • Living as a reflection of the divine, we strive for holiness
    • Absorbing the relentless love of God, we become more fully ourselves
    • In accepting the mission to scatter God’s love, we share light in life’s darkest moments
  • Each of us can reflect, absorb, and scatter light in varying degrees—a single spark can light a fire!