Luminous beings are we

FR. TOM'S HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY (Christmas), December 25, 2022:

“The [Holy Spirit] is my ally and a powerful ally He is. [He proceeds from the love of the Father and the Son and His presence] surrounds us, binds us, and makes us grow. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Holy Spirit around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere.”

Now, I don’t know if any of you recognize this quote. I’m actually channeling my inner geek, my inner nerd, on this one. I’m a huge science fiction fan, and this is actually a quote, not by a famous theologian, a well-known holy figure, or a popular saint. It’s actually something said by Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back. The only difference is I have placed the “Holy Spirit” where the Jedi master speaks of the Force. But, this quote kept coming to me this week as I thought about our gathering in the darkness of this night to celebrate the entrance of Christ the Light into our world – I think this reminder that we are luminous beings speaks to us – especially at the Midnight Mass.

Light is a precious commodity at this time of year; as our days are so short and the light so slim, the night so long and so dark. It’s a big part of the reason why we cover everything with lights at Christmastime. We look for as many ways as we can to bring light into our homes, into our neighborhoods, and into our communities.

This custom of Christmas lights has an interesting history. Christmas light displays, as we know them, harken back to a 17th century German tradition of hanging lit candles on trees in front of people’s homes as symbols of faith and signs of hospitality. Eventually people began bringing these trees indoors. That tradition spread from Germany to England in the mid-19th century when German Prince Albert married the British Queen, Victoria. Illuminated Christmas Trees and Christmas lights became a popular tradition in the royal court. And when a London newspaper printed a photo of the Royal family sitting around a lit Christmas tree, that was enough for everyone else to want one too. That same photo was widely published in the United States, with a similar effect.

In 1880, Christmas lights took a giant leap forward when Thomas Edison created the very first electric Christmas light display around his New Jersey lab, as a stunt to win the electricity contract for Manhattan. A few years later, one of Edison’s protégés, Edward Johnson, had the idea of stringing Christmas lights together. He strung 80 red, white and blue electric light bulbs on a Christmas Tree and placed the tree on a revolving pedestal. These strung lights became an instant success and were soon seen in displays across the country. Today an estimated 150 million light sets are sold in America each year and consume 6% of the nation’s electrical load every December. And I don’t think this merely superficial, but rather a true longing for light at this dark time of year. The darker the world gets, the more important it is that we find the light and bring more light into the world.

“Luminous beings are we.” Scripture tell us that need for light is ultimately a need for God Himself. We need the light of God’s truth in our mind and the light of God’s peace in our hearts. Without them we really don’t know how to live, at least not as effectively as we could. The Bible itself begins with light. “God said, “Let there be light” and there was light. And God saw the light was good.”

My friends, on this holy night, we celebrate the Babe born in Bethlehem, who was born to be the light of the world; the light of our lives. This encounter with Him is meant to transform each of us into luminous beings; not the crude matter that this world wallows in. But maybe, as we gather tonight, you don’t feel particularly luminous. Instead, you may be walking in darkness right now because of illness that you or a loved one are experiencing. You may be walking in darkness because you have lost a loved one and can’t find your way through the grief. You may be walking in darkness because of marriage or relationship issues. Maybe you’ve hit a dark spot and the way forward is unclear. You may be walking darkness when it comes to parenting. You love your kids and want them to succeed but they don’t always make it easy; and especially today they can be very far away from God and the Church. You may be walking in darkness when it comes to work or finding a meaningful job, or challenges with a co-workers or a superior. Maybe your darkness is your finances; a struggle paying the bills or lifting yourself out of debt. Maybe you just feel lost wandering in the darkness and don’t know why. The list could go on and on, but in your hearts tonight you know what darkness your carrying that cries out for the light. It is no fun walking in darkness. It is scary. Its uncomfortable.

But tonight we remember – luminous beings are we. God wants nothing more than for you to know this. He sent His Son to shine brightly into all of the dark places in our world and in our hearts. God does not want you to live in the darkness of discouragement or doubt, of fear or failure; the darkness of conflict or confusion, or of shame or guilt. He wants you to experience the joy that comes from the light of His Son. He wants you to experience the confidence that comes from living in the light of His Truth. How? You know the answer already, “A child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.”

Luminous beings are we. A few years ago, the BBC did a story on St. Mother Teresa at a shelter that she ran for the dying in the slums of Calcutta. The shelter where they brought the TV crew was poorly lit inside and the crew thought it would be difficult to get any usable footage. To everyone’s surprise, the footage turned out spectacular. The whole interior of the shelter was bathed in a mysterious warm light impossible to explain. Writing about this, one journalist said, “Mother Teresa’s shelter is overflowing with love. One senses this immediately on entering. This love is luminous, like the halos artists make visible around the heads of saints. I find it not at all surprising that this luminosity should register on film.”

Pope Francis once said, “Light does not illuminate itself. Be the light to illuminate the world.” There’s a wonderful line we pray each week in the Creed. When speaking of Jesus, we refer to Him as “light from light, true God from true God.” Jesus receives the light from God – He is literally light from light, but then He comes to earth and brings that same light to us. If Jesus is light from light; then you and I are meant to be light from light from light.

My friends, luminous beings are we. Your journey into luminosity can begin tonight right here, in this holy Mass. On this holy night, simply ask the Lord to be your light and to light your way. Ask Him – beg Him – to conquer whatever problem you are facing, whatever challenges are unfolding; whatever darkness you need to conquer. Our world can often seem dark. The darkness can fill our minds and our hearts; and feel like it is overtaking us. But Jesus came to conquer the darkness; invite Him to conquer your darkness tonight.

Let me end with the Prayer of St. Francis which serve as a good description of how God’s light conquers the darkness:

Lord, make us instruments of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master,
grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life. Amen.
 
Merry Christmas and may the Lord give you peace.

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