Darkness

It's still Christmas, at least through Sunday.

Winter, in its deep darkness, reminds us of that.

Pope Francis recently talked about darkness at an Epiphany Mass. Like the wise men, sometimes we must journey in darkness, he said.

 "The Gospel tells us that the Magi, when they arrived in Jerusalem, lost sight of the star for a time," Pope Francis said. "They no longer saw it. Its light was particularly absent from the palace of King Herod: his dwelling was gloomy, filled with darkness, suspicion, fear, envy."

". . . The Magi were able to overcome that dangerous moment of darkness before Herod, because they believed the Scriptures, the words of the prophets which indicated that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. And so they fled the darkness and dreariness of the night of the world. They resumed their journey toward Bethlehem and there they once more saw the star, and the Gospel tells us that they experienced 'a great joy' " (Matthew 2:10). The very star which could not be seen in that dark, worldly palace.

"One aspect of the light which guides us on the journey of faith is holy 'cunning," the pope said, ". . . a spiritual shrewdness which enables us to recognize danger and avoid it." The wise men, who went back by another route, "teach us how not to fall into the snares of darkness and how to defend ourselves from the shadows which seek to envelop our life. By this holy 'cunning,' the Magi guarded the faith. We, too, need to guard the faith, guard it from darkness."

Prayer, love and charity also help us guard our faith, he said.

"We need to welcome the light of God into our hearts and, at the same time, to cultivate that spiritual cunning which is able to combine simplicity with astuteness, as Jesus told His disciples: 'Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves' " (Matthew 10:16).

We should consider the wise men as companions on our way, Pope Francis said.

"Today this is of vital importance: to keep the faith. We must press on further, beyond the darkness, beyond the voices that raise alarm, beyond worldliness, beyond do many forms of modernity that exist today. We must press on toward Bethlehem, where, in the simplicity of a dwelling on the outskirts, beside a mother and father full of love and of faith, there shines forth the Sun from on high, the King of the universe. By the example of the Magi, with our little lights, may we seek the Light and keep the faith. May it be so."

Inspired by the Year of Faith, Susan Szalewski began writing weekly columns for us. Although that year is over, we liked them so well that we asked her to keep writing. Thankfully, she said yes. So watch for these on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.

Light of the World

"You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Heavenly Father."

Many people at St. Columbkille remember Father William O'Leary, a Jesuit priest who passed away Monday in Wisconsin. He taught at Creighton Prep for four decades and offered Masses at parishes across the Omaha area, including St. Columbkille.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Father nearly nine years ago for an article in The Omaha World-Herald. The occasion was a surprise party for his 75th birthday. The party had to be a surprise, organizers said, because otherwise Father O'Leary would not have allowed it. He lived humbly, not drawing attention to himself. But in the course of living out his Catholic faith, people noticed him and were drawn to him. In other words, his light shined.

I didn't know Father O'Leary personally, but I was inspired by his simplicity. I learned that when he received gifts, he often gave them away. He is said to have owned just three pairs of pants and three shirts. He drank water without ice and gave what money he had to pay for lunches for underprivileged students or for their families' utility bills. Father didn't travel by airplane; he preferred the bus because it gave him time to minister to fellow passengers and even offer them the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The light Father O'Leary shared is Jesus, the Light of the World. We, too, are called to let Him radiate through us. May Jesus, our Perpetual Light, shine on Father O'Leary and all the souls of the departed.

Inspired by this Year of Faith we will be posting columns like this from Susan Szalewski about exploring and/or deepening our faith. Watch for it on Thursdays and see the Year of Faith Blog here.