As Lightning Flashes November 16

Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord. Philemon 7:15-16

For just as lightning flashesand lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation. Luke 17: 24-25

Piety

God, you created all of us in your image equally even though society does not always recognize that fact. We are thankful that there are no more slaves in our society, but recognize that there sadly remain places in this world where humans are kept in bondage by others.

Despite our apparent freedom, many of us are enslaved to worldly desires – new cars, fancy clothes, big houses, important jobs and all that the advertisers want us to accumulate. Help us to reject these temptations, pay the ransom and obtain true freedom in your eyes. Deliver us from evil and grant us peace in our day so we can follow you and do what pleases you. Amen.

Study

Shut off your lamp. Shut off your computer monitor. And close your eyes. Appreciate the darkness.

Sit in the darkness for a few minutes in silence. Reach up – with your eyes still closed – and turn your lamp on and off again quickly once (so it flashes like lightning in your study).

From the early parts of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is cast as a light for the world. Jesus as a light that reveals salvation continues as a theme throughout Luke. In today’s readings, that light is compared to lightning that flashes across a dark sky. But this is in context of a whole series of symbols the Luke turns to about “light.”

When Mary and Joseph present their baby in the temple in Jerusalem, Simeon remarks (Luke 2: 29-32)

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” (emphasis added)

In Luke 3:16, John the Baptist explains that he is preparing the world for one who will come after him. He describes Jesus: “He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.”

Then in Luke 8:16-17, we hear the story of the lamp on a hill: “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.”

When light comes in darkness, the only way not to see what it reveals is to keep your eyes closed. But the flash of lightning forces us, reflexively to open our eyes or want to open our eyes to see what is happening.

Luke carries the symbolism of Jesus as light and lightning to the commissioning of the seventy-two: Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.” Thus, Jesus’ presence in the world conquers the forces of darkness.

The NAB notes that “the effect of the mission of the seventy-two is characterized by the Lucan Jesus as a symbolic fall of Satan. As the kingdom of God is gradually being established, evil in all its forms is being defeated; the dominion of Satan over humanity is at an end.”[1]

But first, the light has to be rejected…

Jesus warns, “The lamp of the body is your eye. When your eye is sound, then your whole body is filled with light, but when it is bad, then your body is in darkness. Take care, then, that the light in you not become darkness. If your whole body is full of light, and no part of it is in darkness, then it will be as full of light as a lamp illuminating you with its brightness.” (Luke 11:35-36) (emphasis added)

So while society literally can reject Jesus in his trial, passion, crucifixion, each of us have to be careful not to reject the light of Christ by closing our eyes to His goodness.

When seen in the light, even Peter could not hide from being identified as a follower of Christ by the maid at the fire. Despite his denials, he was recognized. Would we be recognized in the same way if we were standing by that fire today?

Action

Visit http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/ to learn more about the children of Darfur and how you can help. Watch NBC Nightly News and the Today Show this week to see Ann Curry’s series of reports from there.

A series of organizations helping in Chad and Darfur are listed on the MSNBC site. Consult with this list (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15737031/) for more information on how you can help.




[1] http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/luke/luke10.htm#foot8