January 8, 2006
READING 2:
Ephesians 3:2-3a
GOSPEL: Matthew 2:1-12
A little girl is eating at a friend’s house. Her friend’s mother asks her if she likes Brussels sprouts. “Yes, of course I like Brussels sprouts,” the girl replies. After dinner, the mother notices that her young guest had not eaten a single Brussels sprout. “I thought you liked Brussels sprouts,” the mother asks. “Oh, I do,” the little girl says, “but not enough to actually eat them.” Our attitude toward faith is often like this little girl’s attitude about Brussels sprouts. In theory, as a concept, we see ourselves as followers of Jesus Christ and could not imagine being anything else—but in practice, in actually embracing the call to conversion expected by Christ—well, “let’s not get carried away.” But what could it mean to get carried away? The Three Kings from the east allowed themselves to be carried away by their faith that by following the bright light of that star they would find their purpose in life. The kings left their palaces, all their wealth and security and crossed through foreign territory to find that child. Once they found him they did not return by the way that was familiar to them, they went another way into their future. When you enter the Mall, what’s the first thing you see? There’s a big map just inside the door. And there you find that great orange star. It says, “You are here!” You can look at that map and know right where you are and see the best path to go to get where you want to go. Wouldn’t it be nice if our lives were like that? Clarity is good; wouldn’t it be great to have that kind of clarity? But that is not the way most lives are. We live as though we are at a movie and got here about 40-minutes late. People today are as lost as the three Kings were so long ago. Many are even more lost because they don’t even understand they are on the quest. People need the bright light to point them in the right direction. But the bright light for people today is not a star rising in the east. Jesus told his disciples, “You are the light of the world.” It is up to us to show people the way to Jesus. And actions speak so much louder than words. We need to remember not to hide the light we share in Jesus under that bushel basket when we are talking to a friend on that cell phone or to co-workers at the water cooler, or to other guys on the basketball court, or in court. We are the light that points to Jesus. Or we are not. What is your purpose in life? Do you know? We can be sure it is not to make more money. It is not to climb another rung on that success ladder. It is not to shave a stroke or two off that golf score. All those things are good, of course, but they are not your purpose. You were created to find Jesus like the Three Kings, to learn about him and grow to love him, to receive him as he gives himself to you in the Eucharist, oh yes, all of that, but also to be the light for the world, to be his stars, to point the way toward him by all we say and do. John the Baptizer said, “I am not worthy to bend down and untie the strap of his sandals.” We need to walk humbly with our God. We will not point the way with arrogance or self righteous indignation at the sins of others. Oh, no, we will be working on bettering our own selves, smoothing our own rough edges. As we do, though, we will be showing the way for others. It is amazing how a kind or affirming word can light up someone’s life. It is amazing how a simple courtesy can wake someone out of their foggy life. It is amazing how clean humor can break Satan’s spell. It is amazing how a little generosity can change lives. We are not here to boast about being Christian. We are not created to sit on the sidelines either. The star led the wise men to Jesus and the wise person will search and find him too. Jesus alone is the clarity we need; he alone leads us where we most want to go. He alone is the Good News! Fr. Jeff McGowan |
