“Shine” by Beth DeCristofaro
Jesus said to his disciples, "Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? … He also told them, "Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still, more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." (Mark 4:21, 24-25)
Piety
Breath life and illumination into me, Holy Spirit. Help me measure out mercy, love, hope, and justice. Measure me with truth and grace.
Study
Lamps, lighting and illuminating truth in my own life are many. My parents put their Catholicism into action as community volunteers mostly for disadvantaged children. A childhood friend who influenced me in courage and standing up for right. Mass with our “base community” at St. Columbkille in Brighton, MA, experiencing some of what the early Christians might have formed.
Jesus words are also found in the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. They harken back to Wisdom 12:22 Therefore to give us a lesson you punish our enemies with measured deliberation so that we may think earnestly of your goodness when we judge, and, when being judged, we may look for mercy. I take from this that measuring mercy when fair judgment is delivered will return mercy. And there are times when “judgment” is called for, in righting wrongs, in pointing out (with mercy) the fault of another especially when it hurts themselves or others. I certainly have trouble with this. Mercy, however, centers me in God’s arms rather than my own arrogance or obstinate right-ness.
Theologian Carmen M. Nanko-Fernández says “For too long we have domesticated the Holy Spirit, imagining a peaceful white dove as a comforter to support the status quo, or as an advocate without the sharp edge of advocacy. … The Spirit de Dios that breathes la Vida (the life) into each one of us, el espíritu that breathes upon us, the spirit that encourages us to exhale, is the same spirit that urges us on to cry out basta ya, enough already, to all that stifles its movement for justice en nuestras comunidades y casas (our communities and homes), in our churches, in our countries, y en nuestro mundo (in our world). Pa’lante (onward) in the Spirit de Dios!” The measure which will return to us, individually and communally, will be rooted in that brilliant lamplight of the mercy and grace of God.[i]
Action
John Bosco did not let the status quo stop him from shining brightly to bring education and care to youth in poverty and oppression. How are we shining our own lights? In what way do we dim our own lights despite the Spirit’s prompting us to shine?
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