Homily shared with staff at KIDA hospital near Ft. Portal, Uganda…
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
(Genesis 1:1-4 NIV)
Enyonyozi ziri ahi guru! (Stars in the sky)
One of my favorite things about Uganda is the night sky. I enjoy looking at the enyonyozi ziri ahi guru!
Along with Okwezi. And Mars and Venus and Sirius and Orien. Beautiful night lights, all of which I can see from my house in California at night.
Those heavenly bodies closest to us on earth reflect the light of the sun. Okwezi, as you know, does not produce its own light. It reflects the light from the sun, about 93 million miles away.
The nine planets in our solar system, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, Pluto all reflect light from the sun. That is why we can see them with our own eyes or though field glasses or telescopes.
The rest of the lights we see in the sky, millions of them, produce their own light, like our sun. We see stars and their light from far away. The most distant light we can see in the clear night sky began its journey to earth when Jesus walked the earth or even much earlier.
Jesus early ministry included his famous sermon on the mount. In the beatitudes, he tells those assembled and us: “you are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven.” (Matt 5:13-16)
The light we show in our lives and in spirit comes from Jesus Christ. Like Okwezi, we reflect the light from another source. Jesus, who lives in us, is the way, the truth and the life. And the source of the light. And when we are well, that light shines for others to see.
The sun is at the center of our solar system. All planets including earth orbit around the sun. But there are days, sometimes long stretches, where we do not see the sun or its direct light. It is obscured by clouds.
I believe the same can be true of the light in our lives. Sometimes we encounter troubled or difficult people and the light that is within us is lessened. Obstacles and hardship are bound to appear but they need not rob us of the joy that a life in Christ brings us.
In those same beatitudes, Jesus says “blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt 5:11-12)
In times of trouble the light is dimmed, but not extinguished. I saw living examples of that earlier this year when I was in Jordan meeting with Syrian refugee families. The children that I saw were beautiful. I could see in their eyes a hope for the future, although their present was clearly miserable. Away from home, living in small, expensive apartments, traumatized by travel and destruction.
The spirit of the Lord that lives in us will burn forever. It lightens our hearts, it brings light to relationships, and to the work we do. Encouraging words that you share with a friend or a work colleague and fuel the flame of the holy spirit that lives within us.
Like the lights in night sky, we reflect the light from the source of the light, which is God, the father, the son and the Holy Spirit.
As Christ taught the multitudes on the hillside centuries ago, “..let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your father in heaven.”
That is a life worth living. Mukama asiimwe! (Praise the Lord!)