 |
"The Coming of the Great Light" Homily for the Sunday after the Theophany By Archbishop Cyril Salim Bustros |
|
"The Coming of the Great Light" Homily for the Sunday after the Theophany By Archbishop Cyril Salim Bustros |
|
The
Sunday after Theophany (Matthew
4:12-18)
The
“great light” foretold by Isaiah centuries before was none other than our
Lord Jesus. He came as light into the dark world. That
is the meaning of the Jesus’ sayings: “I am the light of the world; he who
follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life”
(Jon 8:12), and later: “I have come as light into the world, that whoever
believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46) Whoever
“believes in me” and “follows me”, says Jesus, does not “remain in
darkness”, but “already has the light of life”. What is this light? The
light is the symbol of the truth. That is why we sing at Christmas: “Your
nativity, O Christ our God, has shed the light of knowledge upon the world”.
Darkness is the symbol of the ignorance and of the sin. In the darkness of
ignorance and sin, in which men were living, God sent His Only-Begotten Son to
enlighten all human beings. St. Paul says: “God has shone in our hearts to
give the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2
Corinthians 4:6). What are the content of this knowledge? 1)
In Christ we know who God is; for he is the only Son and Word of God, that
means, the only true image of God. This is light for us. 2)
In Christ we know who we are; the Word of God penetrates the depth of our
hearts, illuminates the secrets of our thoughts, and lets us know who we
really are. In this light of Christ, we cannot any more deceive ourselves; in
this light of Christ we know that we are sinners, who need salvation. Listen
what the Letter to the Hebrews says: “Indeed the Word of God is living and
active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from
spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of
the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid
bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.” (4:12-13) 3)
In the light of Christ we know the way of life for which man was created, as
Jesus said: “I am the way, and the truth and the life.” 4)
In the light of Christ we know the answer to the riddle of death. Jesus lived
and died as a human being. But after his death he was risen from the dead.
From his tomb has arisen the light of the Resurrection for him and for us. Why
are they so many problems in the world? Way are there inside us fears,
distresses, insecurity? Why are there between peoples wars, enmities, hatred?
We find the answer in the following sentence of the Gospel of St. John:
“This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people
loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do
evil hate the light and do not come to the light so that their deeds may not
be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be
clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” (3:19-21) 2.
Our answer to the light: three candles, candles of faith, of hope and of love In
the life of Jesus three lights were manifested: 1) the light of Nativity
symbolized by the star that lead the Magi from the East to worship the Savior,
it is the light of faith: we believe that Jesus is the Son of God; 2) the
light of the Resurrection, which is the light of hope in eternal life; 3) the
light of Pentecost, which is the light of Love; for the Holy Spirit is the
Spirit of Love. The
story of our Christian life is the story of our illumination by Jesus. Jesus
comes as “a great light” to those who languish in the darkness of
ignorance, despair, and hatred. 1)
To those who sit in the darkness of ignorance, He lights the candle of
knowledge; 2) to those who sit in the darkness of despair, He lights the
candle of hope; 3) to those who sit in the darkness of hatred, He lights the
candle of love. And with these three theological virtues he lights candles of
joy, forgiveness, peace, and meaning in the lives of people today. When
we enter the church we light a candle. The processions of the Gospel and of
the offerings are accompanied by candles. This is to remind us that we have
received light form Christ and that, like Him, we too, ought to be lighting
candles in the lives of people. We have the mission to spread the light of
Christ in the world. He said of himself: “I am the light of the world.”
The same thing he said to us: “You are the light of the world.” Then he
added explaining what does mean to be the light of the world: “A city built
on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel
basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the
same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good
works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Mat. 5:14-16) After
the communion we chant our happiness with the light of Jesus, which is the
light of the Holy Trinity, saying: “We have seen the true light, we have
taken the heavenly Spirit, we have found the true faith, worshipping the
undivided Trinity Who has saved us.” Amen.
|