Reflection at Vespers: 3rd Week of Advent 2023

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. John was not the light, but came to testify to the light. John was not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the prophet, but wanted to help people make straight the way of the Lord.

It wasn’t easy for John when he encountered the religious leaders of his time, but God sent John into the world to reflect the light of Christ wherever he found himself and John took his mission seriously. John came not to show how great he was, but to show others someone who was greater than he. John was used as the light pointing to someone else. John’s mission is the same for all of us who call ourselves ‘church.’

Our world is so darkened by pain, sin, loss, betrayal, even hopelessness. Have you ever had trouble ‘seeing the light?’ I have and it was very hard. It was like having the weight of the world on my shoulders. The person responsible for the betrayal went about life like nothing happened. It was a Friar’s homily one Sunday challenging us to bury our feelings of grief and loss in a coffin where we’d never heal, or we could deal with them, letting them take flight until they didn’t burden us anymore. Talk about seeing the light—the image of a coffin was a wakeup call for me!

Wars, news of casualties and atrocities, and natural disasters too, make it very challenging sometimes to find positive things on the news, the computer, and in our newspapers. It makes being hopeful extremely difficult at times. God wants us to give hope to this world, to be people of

hope. We’re called to be people who help others see beyond the brokenness of this world, to be witnesses of the light.

In our everyday lives, there may be many examples of witnessing to the light. It may be a gentle touch, a smile in the hall, or a visit when a sister is having a tough day. It could be offering to assist with a difficult task. Sending cards, notes, or making phone calls to those far away are possibilities. Mending fences with estranged family members, or being extra patient with others are not easy, but excellent examples! There are as many ways for us to witness to the light of Christ as there are people in the Church. No one way is right! What is right is that we find ways to witness as John did in the wilderness.

I read a story about a youth director. At one point he gave out tiny mirrors to his youth group and invited them to be like John the Baptist----always reflecting the light of Christ into the world. For the remainder of this Advent, it may help each of us to think of ourselves as someone who holds up a mirror to the world, reflecting the light of Christ we have found. This is the work of all the faithful. We are called to continually point to the light who is always Christ.

Sister Jackie Walsh

December 16, 2023