Mother Teresa recounts a story that happened to her when she was visiting Melbourne. She visited an old man whom nobody seemed to know existed. He lived in one small room which was very filthy and totally disorganised. The window was closed and the curtains were drawn. This man lived in perpetual darkness. There were cobwebs everywhere and the floor was dirty and dust covered the little pieces of furniture that he had around. After talking to him for a while she started to clean up the place a little bit and to put some order in the place. At first the man protested and asked Mother Teresa to leave everything as it is because it was quite OK for him.
Yet she persisted and the man ceased protesting. While she continued cleaning Mother Teresa found an oil lamp full of dust and wrapped in very dirty rags. She realised that with a bit of a clean up this old lamp could be restored and provide quite a bit of light. As she was cleaning it, she asked the man, "How come you never light the lamp?" "Why should I light it" he replied. "I do not need it for myself. I have become used to living in the darkness and besides all this nobody ever comes to see me". After a few moments Mother Teresa asked the man if he would be prepared to light the lamp if one of the Sisters comes to see him on a regular basis. He consented to do this. One of Mother Teresa's nuns started to visit the old man and as we can imagine his life started to take on new meaning. He became more positive in his attitude. He became more talkative. He smiled often. His room became cleaner and things were put in their right place and most of all the lamp was lit. All this occurred because someone took the time to visit him and patiently walk with him.
One day, he said to the sister, "I think I am OK now. You do not need to come and visit me with such regularity. From now on I think that I will be able to manage on my own. However, I ask you to do me a favour. Can you please tell the sister who first came to visit me that the light she lit in my life is still burning. Tell her that the oil lamp is still being lit".
What a tremendous experience. The light she lit in my life is still burning. We are all called to continue to be light for others. There are various ways in which we can do this. It is very interesting that in today's gospel when Jesus called Peter and his brother Andrew to follow him they were casting their nets. However when Jesus called James and his brother John they were mending their nets. Some are casters of nets, some are menders of nets. Speaking about Jesus to others and witnessing what Jesus stands for needs both casters and menders, that is, everybody. No matter who we are we can be a witness for Jesus Christ. We all have different characters. Some are more outgoing than others. Some are more in the public eye than others. Some lead a more active life than others. However, Jesus Christ uses who we are to continue to spread his message in practical ways.
There are abundant opportunities for this to occur in a public or in a more private manner. This week I was reading about Ruth Kelly who has been appointed as Minister of Education in Britain. She is thirty six years of age with four children. She gave an interview in the "Guardian", one of the popular English papers. This paper reported that Ruth Kelly told friends that she could not work in the departments of health or international development because of her views on abortion and birth control. She opposed the House of Commons motion in favour of embryo research. She said, "clearly I have strong personal principles. I would have to abide by this in my political career if they are strong personal principles".
Yes it is true that many including ourselves are surrounded by darkness, the darkness of fear, illness, pain, sin, despair, loneliness, poverty and oppression. This is the reason why Jesus' light and healing touch is so vital. You and I as followers of Jesus Christ are invited to bring light to others and not to simply curse and complain about the darkness. To be a source of light in the world one does not need to be rich and famous. All that is needed is a warm heart: a heart that is continuously nourished by the life-giving presence of our God.
God bless.
