Isaiah writes, “(I)f you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; then light shall rise for you in the darkness.” So too Jesus speaks of bestowing Beatitudes or Blessings and then telling us, “You are the light of the world.” “Just so, your light must shine before others.” “Give your light to all.”
Today’s readings illuminate light in the darkness. Who is living in darkness? It could be asserted that those who are deprived are living in darkness. Yet Isaiah is asserting it is those who are privileged. Is it because they have been selfish and not attended to others? Have Isaiah’s listeners not attended to those deprived of food and whose light of physical energy is dimmed? Have they not attended to those marginalized, deprived of community and whose light of psychological energy is dimmed? Have they not attended to those theologically cursed and whose light of spiritual energy is dimmed? If so, they are comparable to persons of privilege today, especially white MAGA supporters. These privileged persons complain about higher taxes stolen from their wages without attending to African Americans whose wages, freedom, and very lives have been stolen up to our time. The privileged complain about failing infrastructure that doesn’t keep up with growth without attending to Native Americans forced into failed infrastructure and then relocated every time growth through land and mineral rights became possible. The privileged complain of being trapped in a U.S. financial system that prevents them from providing for their families without attending to immigrant children being trapped in cages because their parents were fleeing that very trap and worse. It is such a selfish life when we benefit from others’ work and its theft, while we fail to attend to them. It is such a narcissistic life when we give nary a thought to their life experience or perhaps even complain about them. As privileged, only our present diminishment matters. What are the deprived to us, the marginalized, the cursed? They are but shadows in our day. They are but darkness amidst our light. But what if it is we, we who are privileged and selfish, who are the shadows and the darkness? What if it is we who are dimmed of energy – for others, for community and dimming their lights too; physically, psychologically, spiritually? Jesus understands how privileged people dim the light of average people. Throughout his life he affirms the light of those who are not attended to; those who are deprived, marginalized, cursed. You who are deprived, “You are the light of the world.” You who are marginalized, “Just so, your light must shine before others.” You who are cursed, You too, “Give light to all.” You are this world’s brightness. You are our brilliance.
“Light, my light, the world-filling light, the eye-kissing light, heart-sweetening light! Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the centre of my life; the light touches, my darling, the chords of my love; the sky opens, the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth. The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light. Lilies and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light.” (Gitanjali – Rabindranath Tagore)
Prayer: Spirit of Light, may we shine as lovers.
Question: Who has helped me see light in the darkness?
February 09, 2020 Gospel Matthew 5:13-16 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time