Monday
night, at the CCM game night, the students were playing hide and seek in the
dark using cell phones as light. Younger me played a similar game, flash light
tag.
It’s
a game played in a dark yard or woods and everyone has a flashlight and you
chase after those with the light. If you lost it or your batteries went dead
and you didn’t have spares, you were at the mercy of the dark. That included running
into trees, tripping over roots, stepping in holes, and all the dangers
darkness brings.
Similar
circumstances are what the young women found in the gospel. They were probably teenagers,
maybe a little older. They took a lamp into the dark of the night to wait on a
promised relationship. Some didn’t bring enough oil and their lamps went out. They
were in the danger of the darkness. They asked for more oil but there was none
to spare.
Waiting
in the night five had light and found the relationship they were seeking. The
other five became victims of the darkness.
As
human beings, we exist in the fullness of the world as God made us. Each of us
has the reality of a physical body, personality, demeanor, and emotions. In
that reality, we look to establish relationship. They look for something special
with someone else; but, it is a complicated thing.
It’s
been that way since the beginning.
When
it comes to relationships, we can be playing flash light tag. If you have
light, you’re in pretty good shape. But if you lose your light or your light
goes out and don’t have spare batteries, you become victims of darkness.
What
is your light? Is your light Christ? Is your light fueled by the Christian
virtues of faith, hope, and love? Are you as living the Easter proclamation - dearest friends standing in the awesome glory
of this holy light
This
holy light is where we make full and strong relationships with spouses,
children, family, and friends; even our relationships with those who are
against us.
If
our relationship with others is based in Christ, it is a full relationship. The
glory of this holy light which is Christ Jesus offers us union
with God, union with neighbor, union with creation, union with oneself, and
even union with those against us.
We
have this holy light of Christ in us. And, the glory of that light is fueled in
us by the virtues of faith, hope, and love. If we lose these virtues our light dims.
Faith
that fuels the light of Christ is the wisdom that is talked about in the first
reading. Faith is for those who believe. The wisdom of faith is found by those
who seek. Because of faith, our souls thirst for God.
Hope
that keeps the light of Christ burning is written about by Paul. Hope is more
than mere optimism. It is the knowledge of truth that God has something great
in store for us.
Love
is the light of Christ. God is love and love eternal is found in heaven. By the
light of Christ, look for relationships that moves us to God; moves us closer
to eternal love.
In
this worldly reality, the foolish will find relationships without the light of Christ
and relationships without Christ can fall victim to darkness. Those in the
darkness call out: Lord, Lord, open the door for us.
How
do we help others come to a Christ centered, Godly relationships? I found these
examples given by young people. These are young people looking for romantic
relationships but they are truths for all Christ centered relationships.
One
young woman shared her thoughts on finding a relationship in the light
of Christ, “Never lead me to you but lead me to Christ. To love me, know and
love Christ first. If you hold onto Christ with both hands and I do the same,
then He will mercifully bring us to Himself.”
I
saw this sentiment preparing for mass today. One elderly gentleman who had just
read the gospel turned to his wife of over 60 years and said, “I am so happy
God let me find you.”
Striving
for true relationship is complicated by the fact that this world is full of
darkness. Friends keep all your relationships, friendships, and romances in the
light of Christ fueled by the virtues of faith, hope, and love.
If
others don’t bring the light of Christ to a relationship share with them your
light in Christ through faith, hope, and love. It is made for us to share.
Standing in the awesome glory of this
holy light –
Play
a game of flash light tag. Share your light. Seek out those with the light.
My
father told me when I was young, be good, be holy, and live the gospel every
day. Amen.
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