HOPE IN THE HOME CHURCH

Four candles slowly burn.  The ambiance was so soft, one could almost hear them talking.  The first candle said: “I am Peace! The world is full of anger and fighting.  Nobody can keep me lit.”  With that the flame of Peace went out completely.  The second candle said: “I am Faith!  I no longer feel indispensable.  It doesn’t make sense that I stay lit another moment” and just then a breeze softly blew out Faith’s flame.  Sadly, the third candle began to speak: “I am Love!  People don’t understand my importance so they simply put me aside.  They even forget to love those who are nearest to them.”  And waiting no longer Love’s flame went out.

 

Suddenly a child entered the room and saw the three unlit candles.  “Why aren’t you burning?  You’re supposed to stay lit till the end.”  Saying this, the child began to cry.  Then the fourth candle answered: “Don’t be afraid, I am Hope!  While I am still burning, we can re-light the other candles.”  With shining eyes, the child took the candle of hope and lit the other candles. 

“On the first day of the week” (Lk 24:13) the Easter Sunday Gospel started the same way.  In Sunday’s reading the women ran to Jerusalem to announce the Good News of the Resurrection.  Today, the disciples, on the first day of the week, are walking away from Jerusalem. When asked by Jesus what they were discussing, “They stopped, looking downcast.” (Lk 24:17) As if to say, Jesus is dead and everything they looked forward to is over.  It is as if we could see their candles dying one by one.  It was the encounter with Jesus, the one true light, that re-ignited their candle of Hope and they returned to Jerusalem to share the Good News, Jesus is Risen!

“Hope is a decision we make, a choice to believe that God can take the adversity, the disappointment, the heartache, and the pain of our journeys and use these to accomplish God’s purpose.” ~Adam Hamilton.

The poor man at the beautiful gate “paid attention …expecting to receive something…” (Acts 3:5) Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ…rise and walk.” (Acts 3:6) The man “leaped up, went into temple with them, walking and jumping and praising God.” (Acts 3:8) When we keep our eyes on Jesus, the flame of Hope will remain lit and all things are possible.

Though we are separated and scattered around the community, as we virtually celebrate Mass and spiritually receive communion, let not our separation overshadow what God can do for us, in us, and through us.  The Holy Spirit is not confined to the structures we call churches.  This is a time, for a new awakening of the importance of the Home Church, the first church and the first community where we learn to Love, we first learn to live our Faith and to keep the candle of Hope burning brightly, enabling us to experience the Peace of God’s kingdom right where we are.