To be the Light during Lent
Homily preached at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in College Park, MD on Sunday evening, March 20, 2022
Lent is not the season of light. No. Epiphany—the season we journeyed through in order to get to Lent—is the season of light. We begin Epiphany season (back in January) with the celebration of Jesus’s baptism, and often, we celebrate the baptism of a baby or an adult. Every time we celebrate a baptism in the Episcopal Church, we renew our own baptismal vows. We reaffirm the promises that either we made, or our parents and godparents made, on the day we were baptized.
So no, Lent is not the season of light. It begins in the gloom of winter. There is plenty of darkness—long nights, and short days.
Yet the Anglican service of Choral Evensong begins with. . .light. Candles are lit. A few minutes ago, we sang together the Phos Hilaron: “O gracious light, pure brightness of the everliving Father in heaven, O Jesus Christ, holy and blessed. . .”
And earlier, we began with a Collect—a special prayer—that focused on light (note: from Psalm 139):
“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will cover me, and the light around me turn to night,’ darkness is not dark to thee, O Lord; the night is as bright as the day; darkness and light to thee are both alike.”
So. . .light in the midst of darkness. Evening prayers begin around the time the sun is slipping over the horizon, and night is coming. Night with, hopefully, less noise. Night that will bring a more relaxed time, and rest.
I’ve been thinking a lot about light. There’s the obvious situation of Daylight Savings Time, and here I will just say that I agree with saint Hermione Granger, who once said, “Awful things happen to wizards who meddle with time, Harry.” Had someone not meddled with the time, it would now be getting dark outside. But I digress . .
Light. Dark. People who follow Jesus, who is the true Light. The light of Christ that shines into this world. Or does he?
A couple of days ago, I read an article in the New York Times magazine by C.J. Chivers, who has written about a Ukranian photographer who has chosen to remain in his country. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/03/18/magazine/ukraine-war-kyiv.html.
With his camer,a, Alexander Chekmenev has captured stunning photographs of ordinary Ukranian citizens in Kyiv. These people are doing extraordinary things to help each other. A baker who now feed everyone free of charge instead of making a living—but who also makes sure bread is given to a center that houses adults with cognitive disabilities. A director of a financial company who joined a field kitchen to feed others. An owner of a martial arts company who has now joined the military. A film and stage actor who now volunteers with a group providing medical supplies. A former fire fighter who then had a career in planning corporate parties and public events is now helping to stock warehouses that sort humanitarian supplies.
On and on.
Ordinary people being light to each other.
Meanwhile, you and I, fellow Americans, have plenty of light. . .and food. . .and water. . can sleep in our own beds, not in subways or train stations or underground bunkers. We do not fear shelling overhead that terrorizes our children.
Perhaps you, like me, feel helpless. From our safe vantage point, what can we do to help? We can give money to various organizations—including our own Episcopal Relief & Development. On local levels, there are efforts ongoing to collect medical supplies and basic things like diapers, infant formula, blankets, individual first aid kits. One of these groups is Flanders Fields (see www.flandersfields.org for more info).
We can be the light of Christ by helping our brothers and sisters in the Ukraine. Or we can be the light of Christ in other ways. A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned in my homily that there is a University of Maryland Campus Pantry, located near the South Dining Hall on campus across the street. You could give some non-perishable food to food-insecure students, and make a difference in their lives.
Think about how YOU can be the light of Christ to someone this week. For example, if you go out to eat, tip the waiter or waitress a little extra, and be generous to them. If you happen to see the guys who pick up your trash, say “Thank you” to them. They work hard for their living. Be kind to the cashier who waits on you in the grocery store. Or do some random act of kindness to a total stranger. You can think of some way to go out of your way to shine light into someone’s life.
Remember: even in the darkest of nights, a tiny match makes a difference. So go. . .and light a light for someone else this week. It is not your light. It is the light of Christ that you carry into the world.