by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
Today, Sunday, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. The word “Epiphany” means “manifestation” or “shining forth”.
There are some truly inspirational words contained in a homily by then Pope Benedict XVI at a Mass on January 6, 2012. He said: “He who is the true light, and by whom we too are made to be light, has indeed come into the world. He gives us the power to become children of God (cf. Jn 1:9,12)…With the Magi, humanity’s pilgrimage to Jesus Christ begins – to the God who was born in a stable, who died on the Cross and who, having risen from the dead, remains with us always, until the consummation of the world (cf. Mt 28:20)… The wise men followed the star… The great star, the true supernova that leads us on, is Christ himself. He is as it were the explosion of God’s love, which causes the great white light of his heart to shine upon the world.”
Today, let us ask ourselves – How well are we following the Star that is Christ? Are we allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives so that we will draw closer to the “Star”? Are we drawing others to the “Star” by the way in which we live our lives?
Recently I was looking at a recording of my great-niece’s Christmas play at her Catholic school in London. She and her five-year-old peers were singing, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.” Their angelic voices filled the room as they promised to take the light around the world and let it shine:
“I won’t let anyone blow it out, I’m gonna let it shine…
Every day, every day, I’m going to let my little light shine.”
Are we hiding our light under a bushel (Matthew 5:15), or are we sharing our faith and our God-given talents/gifts freely with others? I had given up a lucrative consultancy in London to continue my work with the Catholic Commission for Social Justice (CCSJ) because that is where God led me.
Now that I am back in London to visit my relatives, another offer is on the table. I always pray for guidance when such “temptations” come my way. Over the years I have come to realise that ‘chasing the Dollar/Pound’ is not what I want to do.
If I am honest with myself, I will acknowledge that there have been times when I have felt like giving up seeking to effect change in T&T and returning to London. This is not to say that everything is ‘coming up roses’ in the UK, but at least here there seemed to have been more persons willing to stand in solidarity with me on social justice issues.
If we were all following the “Star”, we will be putting our hands to the plough to implement the social teachings of our Church. Our Catechism tells us: “Society ensures social justice when it provides the conditions that allow associations or individuals to obtain what is their due, according to their nature and their vocation. Social justice is linked to the common good and the exercise of authority…Social justice can be obtained only in respecting the transcendent dignity of man…There exist…sinful inequalities that affect millions of men and women. These are in open contradiction of the Gospel” (CCC1928, 1929, 1938).
The Magi were drawn to the light – not only to the star that shone in the sky, but to the “Light of the World”, Jesus. We say that we are children of this “Light”, yet too many of us allow ourselves to be overpowered by the darkness that threatens our lives and those of others.
Pastor Charles Mallory gives us a good tip as to how we can “become the light for the world to see Jesus Christ…Five ways we can be a light to illumine a world that is fumbling in the darkness:
L = LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOURSELF
I = IMITATE CHRIST
G = GET TO KNOW OTHERS
H = HOSPITALITY
T = TELL THEM ABOUT JESUS.”
He reminds us that “there are over 16 references in the New Testament that tell us to love our neighbour as ourselves, to work no ill towards them …The world needs people to reach out to others in acts of friendship. Nothing has become more disturbing in today’s society than the self-centredness and worship of ‘Me, Myself and I’.”
Following the “Star” means placing Christ at the centre of our lives. As St Augustine said: “Christ is not valued at all, unless He is valued above all.”
