5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 9, 2014
10 AM & 5:30 PM Liturgies
J.A. Loftus, S.J.
In 1965, the psychologist Erik Erikson published his seminal
work Youth, Identity and Crisis. It has probably been decades since
most of us read it. But whether we ever did read it, or not, it has
had a remarkable impact on all of us—whether we know it or not.
In that year, 1965, all of our “identity crises” were born.
Remember those? [For the 5:30 PM liturgy: many of you were not
even born in 1965. You are going to have to just trust me. If you
have not yet had your identity crisis, keep watching!]
One of the most significant contributions Erikson made was
to describe the process by which any one of us comes to a secure
sense of personal identity. It is a combination of individual, intrapsychic struggle, and the “gift” of others walking with us in our
inter-psychic neighborhood. Identity depends on both ourselves
and on others in a community around us. In short, people tell us
who we think we really are.
In last week’s liturgy, the baby Jesus was told by a wise old
man, Simeon by name, that whatever else might appear to the
senses, Jesus was, and is, the light to the nations and the glory of
Israel. Simeon shares a piece of Jesus’ identity with him when he
says you are the light of the world! This is part of a process that
many of us may have experienced as well. A loving parent, or
perhaps even grandparent, whispers to us a piece of our own
identity and helps shape what we might become. People who love
us are always trying to shape us.
Flash to Jesus as an adult. In John’s gospel (9th chapter) we
hear the story of the man blind from birth. In this story Jesus
reveals the identity he has grown into. He says to the crowds,
“While I am in this world, I am the Light of the world.”
Simeon might again have jumped for joy at Jesus’ selfappropriation of the identity that old Simeon first offered him.
And then Jesus, with his spit and the dust of the earth, brings that
very same light to a blind man’s eyes.
We come to today’s gospel (and you can probably see where
this is going!). Right after he teaches the disciples the Beatitudes,
Jesus says something astounding to his disciples. He shares with
them their new identities. I just read it for us. Jesus says, “You are
the Light of the world.” And he continues, “Your light must shine
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before others” that they may see your good deeds and give glory to
God.
Do we realize that Jesus is still saying that to us, his later
disciples? Yes! To each one of us, to you and me! YOU are the light
of the world! He says it again this very day to you and to me. That
is truly astounding, and yet very hard to believe.
In 1971, Matthew’s gospel was turned into a musical,
Godspell. The song that ends the first act is called “You are the
Light of the World.” But the producers realized that to sing that to
a whole audience of perhaps 2000 theatergoers didn’t have the
punch they wanted. They went for shock value. So they had cast
members jump into the audience and invite individuals to stand
up, one-by-one. And then the cast pointed to each and every one
individually and sang again: YOU are the light of the world! It
suddenly became much more personal. And then the cast served
wine to everyone in the theater.
I will not shout-out each and every one of you. But you need
to realize Jesus does. This song is a description of just who each
and every one of us is. And together we shine even more brightly!
YOU and YOU and YOU.
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Two questions arise: what exactly does it mean to shine?
And how am I supposed to shine? Isaiah today answers the first
question, and St. Paul quiets any fears about the second.
Isaiah’s page comes straight from the Beatitudes. “Share
your bread with the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless
and oppressed, and do not turn your back on your own.” If you
satisfy the afflicted, Isaiah says, then a light shall rise for you in the
darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday. Sounds
very “Franciscan” these days, don’t you think? That’s the how of
being light. That’s what it means to be light for the world.
And St. Paul calms any fears of inadequacy by speaking of
himself. “I did not come [to you] with sublimity of words or
wisdom; my message and my proclamation were not with
persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of Spirit
and power….” Remember our friend and patron, Ignatius: “Love
manifests itself in deeds more than in words.” As Jesus says
elsewhere, “don’t ever be afraid of what you should say.” The
power of the Spirit is already with you all.
And now for a final closing lesson in verb tenses. Jesus does
not say to his disciples—or to us: You might have been the light of
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the world. Nor does he say, you once used to be the light…. Nor
does he say, “You might become….” He says in the active present
tense: You are the light of the world! Right now as you sit here
sleepy, or distracted, or bored—or sad, depressed, sick, distressed.
For better or worse, right now: You ARE the light of the world. And
together we are invited to be a brilliant chandelier set on the
hilltop.
Identity is something we all strive to find for ourselves. But
in the end it is a gift from others as much as a solo performance.
Let’s all try harder today to hear Jesus tell us who He thinks we are.
Thank you Mr. Erikson for the theory. Thank you Jesus for the
reality. Peace!
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