Lighthouse

 Sunday of the Word of God 

Decreed by Pope Francis in 2020 - Under the image of the Road to Emmaus.  

Scripture is my aid - my encounter with the God 

Scripture is ever-new and ever-revealing God’s love to me

Encountering God in the Scriptures.

When I read Scripture I want to bring it into my life to see where the Lord is speaking to my heart.

START WITH SCRIPTURE

• Introduce the Bible, 

• Its structure

• How to navigate it

Start with the Old Testament

Isaiah Background - Was a prophet who wrote at the start of the exile (740-680 BC).  God used Isaiah’s ministry to prepare for the coming of Christ.

A lighthouse guides me to a safe harbor - Isaiah

Isaiah 8:32-9:3 - Land of Gloom - See a great light! - The joy of finding a way out of a mess. 

Today, we are asked to figure out where I am in gloom.  Once I see that it helps me to see how to get out of the Gloom!

Where is my life in a mess - It is there that I need to invite Christ and His grace - because it is His presence that greets and heals me.

How do I respond to God’s love?  Like men making merry over spoils?

[[BRIDGE TO PAUL]]

Golden Nugget: Upon those who dwell in the land of gloom a light has shone. The Church is like a lighthouse, standing firm against the pounding waves of modernity and guiding travelers to safety. Jesus is the light, a beacon and searchlight for those who are lost, and a safe harbor for those who seek refuge.

We are lighthouse keepers

As Members of the Church we need to remember that our  mission is to be the keepers of the Lighthouse making sure that the light is able to shine in the darkness - to warn of danger, draw people to safety and provide a guide for growing closer to God.

Mission of the Church - Shows me what my mission is and how to pursue it.

Now let’s turn to 1 Cor 1:10-13, 17 - At the Start St. Paul is reminding the Church of her mission - and then pointing out that the Church in Corinth is distracted from their mission.

 

Unity vs what distracts us as a Church

St Paul - The vision of the church is a place of unity, the reality of the Church when it is sometimes a mess - we need to be reminded of the central unity and mission of the Church.  

Christians need to encounter Christ - daily

But we need to understand that the Church too needs to encounter Christ - lest she get caught up in the drama of the day or of the world.  Here is where Scripture is useful for training us in what are the most important elements of our faith - its unity and conformity to the teachings of Christ.

Christians are the Lighthouse keepers.

One way that we strengthen the lighthouse is by holding fast to the faith of the Church - through which the Holy Spirit has worked across the millennia to bring us the same faith that St. Paul had - based on our Encounter with Christ in the Body of Christ (you and I), in the Word (our scripture) and in the Eucharist (in the Mass).

[[BRIDGE TO THE GOSPEL]]

The Gospel is the heart of the Scriptures / Christ is the Light of the Lighthouse

There are 4 books of the Bible which form its heart - and that is the Gospels where we encounter the actions and teachings of Christ.  If you have not done it I encourage you to take some time to read one of the Gospels.  This year, as a Church we are hearing from the Gospel of Matthew.  

Teach a little about St. Matthew

• A Tax Collector, and an Apostle

• Jewish and rooting Jewish converts to Christianity to the truth of the Jewish Faith

• Knew St. Joseph’s family

• Meticulous in his details of the life of Christ

The Gospels are like the Beacon at the heart of the light house - it is here that we encounter Jesus who is the light.  In the Gospel we hear his words - repent and believe in the Gospel - 

• Repent of the things we do in our lives that detract from the witness of the Church.  

• Repent of the things we do in our lives that trap us in sin and gloom and darkness.  

• Repent of the things of this world that trap us (like the nets of the fishermen) and leave those things behind hat prevent us from following Him.

Our mission is to be faithful keepers of the Faith that has been passed on to us.

Matthew 4:12-23

The Gospel - Jesus is the heart of the Lighthouse.  

Jesus begins to build the Church with individuals - Peter and Andrew, James and John and shows the work of the Church - proclaiming the good news of God’s love and healing those in need of it.

The Church is anchored in Christ - the Word Made Flesh

The Word of God prepares us for the Bread of Life

The encounter with the Word of God that we experience each liturgy is meant to lead us deeper - into our encounter with Christ who is the Word made Flesh that dwells among us.  The word prepares us to enter into communion through the Son into the Holy Trinity.

Today after receiving the Eucharist - I invite you to return to your pew - and open your scripture - either to one of these readings or another, and allow your prayer to be united to him - in the word, and in your life.  

Lord - let us be infused with your Word - that we might become better light houses for those we meet this week.