A Thousand Points of Light

A few decades ago, President George Bush, Sr. popularized the image of

a Thousand Points of Light.

That was his call to Americans to keep up their good works of service and volunteerism.

He recognized that it was not a new image; he said it was old.

Old but not stale—timeless.

That image is a distant reflection of the image Jesus raised two thousand years earlier.

You are the light of the world.

Your light must shine before others,

That they may see your good deeds,

And glorify your heavenly father.

Those are the words he spoke to his disciples as he sent them out into the world.

Out like the prophets of old.

Out to spread the Good News.

Words like those were probably repeated to St Barnabas, whose feast we celebrate today.

As he was sent out on his missionary journeys.

Now those words are repeated to us.

We’re told that we too should go and spread the word.

When we were baptized we were anointed for that mission.

Anointed as priest, prophet and king.

And we were given grace to help us fill those roles.

Now, Jesus sends us out to be that light of the world.

We should be aware that there are people who are watching.

And that our example can actually draw them closer to God.

We shouldn’t become overly self-conscious about it.

And we shouldn’t let it stress us out.

We should just continue to try to be ourselves.

But also work to become the best selves we can be.

Frequently attending Mass is one way to go about that improvement.

But fewer than 4% of U.S. Catholics go to Mass more that once a week.

Only 30% go once a week.

Those of us who attend frequently are blessed to have the opportunity and the motivation.

Of course, just being at Mass doesn’t necessarily make us better people.

But it does show that we’re working at it.

The word Mass comes from the Latin missa—to send.

And we’re sent from each Mass with a reminder of our true mission in life:

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

What do people see when they look at us closely?

If they see a good example, good acts, good deeds—

Then we are “in-deed” being what Jesus calls us to be.

Thousands of thousands points of light.

The light of the world.

Tuesday of 10th Week in Ordinary Time

Mt 5:13-16                                    Read this Scripture @usccb.org