It’s been cold lately. Shockingly so. Sunday morning there was frost on the cars and I needed a jacket again. After it being almost 80 on Monday, it put us back in winter with a passion. Then I decided to renew the tags on my clown car, now that it’s running again. I sat down in it, and even though it was 30 degrees outside, the sun came through the windows and warmed me gently all the way to my core. It was that image that I had in mind when writing about this scene for my homily.
In today’s Gospel (John 10:22-23), we find a scene where Jesus is walking in the temple amidst the Feast of Dedication, which takes place in winter. The passage doesn’t just paint a picture of a historical event but holds deeper layers of meaning, inviting us to reflect on the nature of faith and revelation.
Imagine the temple, bustling with activity during this festive season, yet amidst the throng, there’s Jesus, walking calmly, almost like a beacon of light amidst the winter gloom. His presence, like sunlight, penetrates through the cold, revealing truths to those with eyes to see and hearts open to believe.
In our lives, too, the truth of Jesus as Christ is like sunlight, ever-present and warming, even when our spiritual eyes are shut. Sometimes, we may find ourselves spiritually blind, unable to fully grasp the depth of Christ’s teachings or comprehend His presence in our lives. Yet, just as the warmth of the sun persists even when our eyes are closed, so does the truth of Jesus persist, waiting for us to open the eyes of our faith and receive it fully.
But how do we open our eyes to this truth? Just as sunlight floods in when we open a window, so too does the truth of Jesus flood into our lives when we open ourselves to faith. And one of the most profound ways we do this is through the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
In the Eucharist, we not only remember Christ’s sacrifice but also partake of His very presence. It’s like opening wide the shutters of our souls and letting the warm, life-giving light of Christ stream in. Through the Eucharist, our eyes are opened anew to the reality of Jesus as Christ, and we are nourished and sustained by His love and grace.
So, let us strive to be like the temple in winter, filled with the hustle and bustle of life yet always open to the light of Christ. Let us open the eyes of our faith, receive the warmth of His truth, and let His presence transform us from the inside out. And let us never forget the profound gift of the Eucharist, through which we continually encounter the living Christ and are drawn ever closer to Him.
A homily for Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter: 4/23/2024