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Not very long ago, I was having dinner at some friend’s house, and got a chance to sit next to….Billy. Billy is somewhere between one and two, probably closer to two, and has strong opinions about what he likes and what he doesn’t like. No matter if mamma is telling him in a sweet voice how nummy-nummy the mashed peas are, no matter if dad ends up eating half of the loathsome vegetables himself in order to show him how mmm-mmm good they are—if he doesn’t like them, he starts throwing. He threw the spoon, he threw the cup, he threw the bow…and finally, in an unguarded moment, he threw the Gerber’s jar and the peas…right at me.
Billy is young. He hasn’t had a chance to learn yet how to respect things. He doesn’t know that when you throw things, they sometimes get dinged or cracked or broken. He’ll learn. In fact, that is one of life’s great accomplishments…learning respect. It’s a life-long process. I remember comparing how my cousins and I used to do dishes, compared to the way my grandmother did, for instance. As teenagers we tore into those dishes as quickly as we could, they went flying. There was always at least one fatality, quite often an old cup or plate. We were a little better than Billy, but we had a way to go. Things still got dinged and cracked and broken.
And then there was Grandma. Perhaps she was like most old people. She handled the dishes slowly, with a sort of reverence. Her wrinkled old hands took hold of each platter and glass as if it were a special old friend. I don’t remember her ever breaking anything. She had learned respect. She knew how easily things can get dinged and cracked and broken. She knew how to respect food and clothes, and pencils and pens….and people.
Because if unimportant things get dinged and cracked and broken when they are not respected enough, so can people. If people are abused or roughed up or overlooked and banged around often enough…they get dinged and cracked and broken.
It isn’t enough, Jesus says, not to murder. You have to show respect to everyone. Not harbor anger against them. Not use abusive language against them or hold them in contempt.
It isn’t enough, Jesus says, to avoid the actual act of adultery with someone. What is needed, is respect for someone else and their relationship, and respect for yourself, that you don’t even entertain the thought.
It isn’t enough, Jesus says, to avoid swearing to things that are false. What is needed is so much respect for the people around you that you don’t swear at all, you just say yes when its yes and no when its no.
We Americans are just now learning how important it is to respect things instead of wasting them; respecting the environment, the rivers and streams, the soil and air, instead of abusing them.
And we need to grow in respect for ourselves and for each other. This means, not having to dominate every conversation. Not having our own way. Not inflicting our moods so freely on each other. Respect is one of the most basic types of love.
And why should we show ourselves and each other so much respect? Because God has shown complete respect to us!
1. Do I show respect to myself?
2. Is there someone close to me that I am disrespecting?

A few times a year I like to play a game I call “Help the Preacher!” That’s where I email the 527 people in our parish database and ask them to share their stories of faith. You always give me such great stories!

In today’s Gospel Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world, so I asked you how you try to be light to others. I also asked you to tell me about some people who light up your life.

Here’s what you told me:

I try to start the day off by reading God’s Word. It really prepares me for my line of work. I deal with parents and mostly kids all day with my baseball lessons. I feel that God calls me to be a light of encouragement for every child I work with. Without preaching in the batting cage, I do my best to try to shine the light of Christ.

I find that a greeting card can bring light into life. Last Sunday when I went to visit the nursing home a woman told me it was her birthday. I sang “Happy Birthday” and it brought such a beautiful smile that I thought about her all week. When I was shopping I bought a “belated” card for this lady and dropped it off today. I was gifted back with another of her beautiful smiles.

I’ve always loved that quote from Saint Francis that goes something like this:  ”Go out and spread the Good News.  Use words if you have to.”  Being a public school teacher, I can’t overtly proclaim Christ’s Word, but, through my actions, I can try to be as kind and patient as I can be.  Of course, I sometimes “fumble”, but, as Father so eloquently demonstrated a couple of weeks ago,  you just have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and get back on the path (with the help of Christ’s message shining like a beacon to guide us.)

Here’s what you told me about how others light up your life:

I almost dismissed this email, but as I was trying to find my missing keys (again!) I realized that my husband is the light of my life. He’s the one who always finds my missing keys! It’s my husband who always puts our life into proper perspective. He walks with peace on his mind at all times. A few years ago, when I wasn’t feeling good physically, emotionally, or spiritually it was my husband (raised as a Protestant) who came home with a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He knew I had a devotion to Mary, and as we were trying to find a suitable place in our yard for the new statue he said to me, “You’ll be OK…..We’ll be OK…..” My husband’s light shines so bright in this world that you can’t miss that he is a happy soul.

There is a light shining in my world and he’s here at mass each Sunday. When my daughter needed help with her math studies, this gentleman offered to tutor her. They’ve been meeting once a week for several months.  My daughter’s math grade has significantly improved, and so has her self-confidence. This man works with other children as well, donating even more of his time to those in need. He could be enjoying retirement life on the golf course or doing many other activities.  Instead, he chooses to serve our children. He is truly a light shining among us.

Father Ron is so friendly and welcoming. His homilies are humorous, to the point, and just the right length – like a woman’s dress: long enough to cover the subject but short enough maintain interest!

Many years ago I decided to end my abusive marriage. I knew it was for the best, but I was filled with guilt and dread over how this would affect our children. When I told my son’s teacher about it, she opened her arms wide and gave me a warm, long hug while saying “I am so proud of you.” She told me that she knew what a good mother I was. She said I was such a wonderful example to the children of how to take care of myself and them, and how to face the hard things of life with love and intelligence. She was a light to me. She didn’t say “God.” She didn’t preach. She just believed in the goodness in me. I not only felt understood and supported, but she also gave me a model of how to “be” during and after my divorce. Her kind words comforted me and gave me strength to seek the light of God in others.

I immediately think of the Lucas family: Joe, Sylvia and Michael. They certainly show many of us how to learn to cope with adversity with great faith, patience, and love. Lights shining in our midst.

Over the past few months I have spent many hours outside the Aptos Safeway collecting receipts to raise money for my children’s school. It has been my great honor to watch Robert at work.  In the fall, even on the days in scorching heat when he would work hours on end gathering heavy carts, he always did it with a smile on his face. This past Monday he was cleaning cash registers with a cloth.  But he was not just rushing through it to get the job done, he was actually “in the moment” very present with his task and doing it so lovingly with all of his heart and being.  Several times Robert stopped to talk to me to make sure I had eaten and that I was doing okay.  And every time with the brightest smile. Robert is truly living in The NOW and his light shines so radiantly and beautifully.  It was honestly my greatest blessing to observe him; it made my whole day and I was completely uplifted.

And what is this light that shines so brightly at times within us and around us? It is Christ himself, the light of the world, shining through us and showing the people around us the way to hope, faith and love.

I’ll close with this beautiful poem by Beatrice Clelland. It’s called “Portrait of a Christian.”

Not only in the words you say,
Not only in your deeds confessed.
But in the most unconscious way
Is Christ expressed.

Is it a beatific smile?
A holy light upon your brow?
Oh no, I saw His presence when
You laughed just now.

To me ‘twas not the truth you taught,
To you so clear, to me so dim.
But when you came to me
You brought a sense of Him.

And from your eyes He beckons me,
And from your lips His love is shed.
‘Til I lose sight of you
And see the Christ instead.