Homilies

THE LIGHT HAS COME INTO THE WORLD

We all know the importance of light. Without light, we are blind to the beauty around us. On another level, light helps us see right from wrong, good from bad. In this way, light enables us make informed decisions. In his conversation with Nicodemus that we heard in the gospel of today, Jesus compares himself to the light. Jesus is the light that has come into the world. He is like a village built on the hilltop, as the Nyanja proverb says, ““Muzi ukakhala papiri subisikha” (A village built on hilltop, cannot be hidden). Sadly, Jesus tells us that: “People have shown that they prefer darkness to the light.” If light is so important in all our lives, why would someone prefer darkness?

In a certain home, a father once called for a meeting with his twelve-year-old son. This unusual meeting had only one item on the agenda, fairness in the home! “Son,” began the father, “when you look at the way responsibilities are shared in this home, don’t you think you and I are unfair to your mother and two sisters in that they do most of the work in the home?” Without pausing to think the son retorted, “Thanks for asking me, Dad, but I know for sure that we are not in any way unfair.” Undeterred by the son’s response, the father went on; “Ok. Let us just go through the tasks that are performed on a daily basis here in our home and see how they are shared amongst us. When we wake up in the morning, the house is swept, breakfast prepared and afterwards all the dishes cleaned. Who does all this?” “My mum and two sisters,” was the reply. “And when you come home from school, you find lunch already prepared. After lunch the dishes are cleaned and preparations for supper begin. Water is fetched and so is firewood. Then supper is ready, you and I are invited to the table and afterwards the dishes are cleaned. Who does all this?” “My mum and two sisters,” replied the son. “Son, I ask you again, don’t you think we treat your mother and sisters unfairly in the way we share tasks in this home?” Slowly, the boy answered, “I do see clearly now that we treat them unfairly. But please, Dad, don’t tell them!”

And this is the problem with the light. Or better still, this is the problem some people tend to have with the light. They fear to lose certain privileges that they enjoy when they stay in the dark! Those who stand to gain from the ignorance of others will always fight to prolong such a situation. Accepting Jesus into our lives means having the courage to look at ourselves as we really are. Accepting Jesus who is the light into our lives means also allowing his soul-searching presence to challenge some of our long held beliefs and ways of life that are certainly not in conformity with our Christian calling.

As we in Zambia prepare to go for national elections, all of us as Christians and citizens have a duty to inform ourselves about what is going on in our country. Using the light of Christ and the Church’s Social Teaching, we have to seek to understand better how government should work. Thus we can know how to choose the best people to serve as national leaders. None of us should be like soccer funs that just watch from the terraces of political apathy, but should actually be football players who are involved in political action. This year, we should choose to embrace the light that has come into the world. Before this year’s elections, we shall commit ourselves to share in our homes and our Small Christian Communities the light of the gospel and the Church’s Social Teaching about good governance and social justice.

Another sector that is so pertinent to this process of informing the citizenry of what is going on and what the different political parties in the country are offering is the media, both private and public. Sometimes just by listening to the public radio and television, one would think that the party in government is competing against itself! But, those working in media institutions have an obligation to inform the public on issues affecting the nation in a more balanced picture.

In their pastoral letter before the 2001 elections, the Catholic Bishops instructed: “We call upon the media to preserve with pride its noble duty to inform and educate the citizenry during the electoral period and to promote intelligent debate of the issues. It should be professional and ensure full and fair coverage of all parties. We also expect the media to raise pertinent issues for national debate. In particular, we request the Government press, radio and television to give fair coverage to all political parties.”

As Easter approaches – in three weeks time, we pray that we will all choose to walk in the light of knowledge and truth and not in the darkness of ignorance and fear. We pray that the light of Christ may shine ever brighter in the lives of all Christians so that the darkness that is being perpetuated by those who fear to lose certain unjust privileges may be overcome. After all, that is what Easter is all about, the bright light of Sunday morning overcoming the darkness of Good Friday! Indeed, “The Light has come into the world.”

Questions for reflection and sharing in Small Christian Communities

Sketch

Have a family of five. In this family, the mother and the two young girls do all the house chores. Then, one day the father discusses with the son the need to get involved in house duties -- preparing meals, washing dishes, sweeping. The son realises he should participate in house duties, which are “commonly” reserved for females.

Community Prayers