Priests do not always take themselves seriously.
Three priests who had been seminary classmates were assigned in the same parish. One was a published poet, the second a former philosophy professor, the third a former businessman. While they were engaged in an after-dinner conversation, the lights went off, and they were all sitting in the dark, waiting for the power to come back.
Ever inclined to contemplation, the poet began to think of all those still in need of conversion from the dark life of sin to a path that leads to enlightenment.
The former professor of philosophy, disciplined in the science of speculation, began to think about the malice of sin, how a person in sin begins to look for and find false lights. After a while, such a person can no longer distinguish artificial light from natural light.
Suddenly the lights switched on. But the former businessman was missing! Then they heard the sound of a metal box closing.
A few seconds later, the missing priest walked in from the kitchen. He was clutching a pair of lineman's pliers. He said, grinning from ear to ear, "I replaced the fuse."
In my estimation, St. John can't be classified as falling under any of the three. He was aware of God's decision to send His Son to be one of us to save us.
God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.
John 3, 16
Early in the Gospel, John wrote:
He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1, 2- 5
and three lines later, he added,
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
John 1, 9
But sadly, some rejected the true light.
He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.
John 1, 11
And in today's Gospel reading, John brings up the same:
And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed.
John 3, 19 – 20
Today's Gospel reading then is an invitation to look into our lives. We can all find that there is still some corner in our minds, hearts, and intentions in the darkness of sin. These corners need the light of Christ to shine on them. When they begin to reflect His light, our path to goodness can be better illuminated by His light and its amplification through our example. That published poet is right.
We need to look into our inclinations. To whom do we look for guidance? On what do we base our thoughts, our opinions? Do we look only for what confirms our views and are dazzled by flashing artificial lights instead of the sunlight that kills germs of falsehood. Are we in a mindset that rejects whatever unsettles our unexamined but comfortable beliefs? That former philosophy professor –now a priest – has a point.
We have all experienced some trials that may have caused us to question how God works in our lives. Will we be willing to stand up to replace the broken fuse and accept that God is always faithful? That former businessman did something to change his situation.
We pray then:
Lord, keep us from falling into sin. Free us from thoughts, intentions, and actions that tempt us to crave:
Wealth without work,
Pleasure without conscience,
Knowledge without character,
Commerce without morality,
Science without humanity,
Worship without sacrifice,
Politics without principle.[1]
Amen.
[1] These phrases were adapted from a sermon given by Frederick Lewis Donaldson in Westminster Abbey, London, on March 20, 1925.
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