Dcn Brigid Waszczak

No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you. —Luke 11: 33-36

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Like the light on the lampstand, Jesus displayed His word and works for all to see. The Pharisees refused to see them as God’s word and works; would not accept them as that testimony. In fact, in previous verses, the Pharisees called Jesus’ miracles works of Satan. Despite that characterization, Jesus continued to shine his light; he went on glowing as God sent him to do.

Eyes that cannot see light are blind. The Pharisees were spiritually blind, ignoring evidence right before their eyes that Jesus was the Son of God he claimed to be. Jesus was different from their conception of a Messiah. The Pharisees’ suspicious, fearful nature kept them in that dark, unseeing place Jesus warned about—a caution also meant for us.

A favorite aunt, a nun (about whom I have written before), saw the light in people when others saw their faults first. She saw souls shining even with evidence to the contrary. My aunt did not concentrate on differences between herself and others, but similarities shared. I admired this about her. She was a great model. People commented that there was something special about my aunt. She radiated light and glowed with gladness. No matter who you were, she welcomed interaction with you.

My aunt’s example allowed me to embrace my multi-ethnic, culturally, religiously, and sexually diverse family. They are a vision of bright-burning brothers and sisters. 

Our culture cautions us to be suspicious of others, especially those different from us. Many demonize people because of their race, gender, denomination, culture, language, sexual expression, and whatever else they determine is unusual.

How would today’s society accept Middle-Eastern, dark-skinned Jesus?

How would Jesus see others? I am sure, as brilliant, illuminated brothers and sisters who should not be made to hide under a “bowl.”

 May it be so,

—Brigid