I have to admit, this is the first time I’ve ever seen
lighthouses carried in a procession for Mass.
But a lighthouse is a fitting symbol to think about. A lighthouse shines its light on rocks so
that ships can find their way to safe harbor.
It points out danger to prevent a disastrous shipwreck. You can imagine how after a long sea journey,
that lighthouse would bring so much comfort to the sailors, as it guided them
safe to shore.
God does something similar for us doesn’t he? God created us to know him, love him, and
serve him, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven. And in order to help us do those things, he’s
given us many gifts. He’s given us the Scriptures, he’s given us His
commandments, His given us the gift of His Son, He’s given us the teaching of
the Church, he’s given us the Sacraments, he’s given us the life of the Blessed
Virgin Mary and the example of the saints.
All these things are the light by which we are to be kept safe from evil
in the world and brought safely to heaven.
In the Gospel today we heard of the calling of the
Apostles. Jesus chose the twelve to be
the foundation stones of his Church. He
would send them to all the corners of the world, to bring the light of the
Gospel to those in darkness. Likewise,
he calls us to be faithful to Him in all things, and to bring the light of
faith into the world.
We heard in the first reading how St. Paul gave some pretty
harsh words to the Corinthians. The Christians
in Corinth were divided in many ways, they argued about a lot of things. St. Paul was like a lighthouse for the people
of Corinth. With the light of truth, he
pointed out that the reason for their division was because they were not
following the teachings of Jesus Christ.
They were imitating not the goodness of Christ, but the evil they saw in
the world. St. Paul’s words, though
harsh, were like light to the Corinthians, as he encouraged them to be more
faithful to Jesus.
We celebrate this first school Mass of the year on the Feast
Day of St. Peter Claver. The saints are
God’s lighthouses in the world as well. St.
Peter lived in a time when people in Africa were being captured and sold into
slavery. They were put on ships were
they suffered from starvation, dehydration, and truly disgusting conditions. Many died by the thousand. St. Peter Claver was a priest born in Spain,
who understood the wickedness of the slave trade. He came to South America where he would
minister to the slaves who were brought there, as they came into harbor, giving them food and water, and
telling them about God who loves them, and about Jesus who suffered like they
did. St. Peter Claver baptized hundreds
of thousands of slaves into the Catholic faith.
He is just one saint who again is like a lighthouse. And shined with the light of God. He helped people who were suffering greatly
to know the love and closeness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ. And we are called to do the same.
Pope Benedict XVI wrote, the love of God in the end is light, and
the only light that can illuminate a world grown dim.
May we be a lighthouse, shining with the love and mercy of
God to all those we meet for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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