We know from a third-century Church Order called The Apostolic Tradition that Christian believers from the earliest times have come together in the evening to pray to God. It is beautiful expression of shared faith that in this week of prayer for Christian unity, on the night before my installation as the next Roman Catholic Archbishop of Edmonton, so many friends of God and each other are coming together to pray.
Evening is always a poignant time of day. Christians, then as now, huddle together in the darkness. We light lamps and candles, and sing psalms, hymns and inspired songs. (Eph 5:19) We give thanks to God at the close of day and intercede for the needs of the Church and our whole human community.
The reading for this evening’s office speaks of several things, but Saint Paul dramatically cites God’s word bringing light at the dawn of creation to reveal what God is already doing in us in his Son Jesus Christ. It’s a very striking and powerful image.
Paul is sharing with his brothers and sisters at Corinth about the challenges of his apostolic ministry and what gives him hope in preaching the Gospel in an often-difficult world. He says that the same God who said, Let light shine out of darkness, is carrying out a work of creation in us who have recognized God’s light shining on the face of Jesus Christ. Christmas was just about a month ago. We all have fresh memories of that flushed and ruddy baby in the manger, glistening with glory under the star of Bethlehem.
Paul compares our coming to believe in God’s Son Jesus as Lord and Messiah to this separation of light from darkness. We have found the knowledge of the glory of God in our relationship with the Son of Mary, born a little child, Emmanuel, God with us. The wood and constraints of the manger already foreshadow the Cross and the light of God’s faithful love that will overcome the darkness of sin and illusion by Jesus’ gift of himself.
Like many of us here tonight, I was baptized as an infant on the faith of my parents and godparents. That faith in Christ really came alive, became mine, however, when I was a teenager here in Edmonton and had all these new questions about myself and the world, life and death, and beyond. What do we believe about this, I would ask my father? Not what does the Church teach but what do we believe. Mysteriously that gift of faith was at work, and I trusted the Catholic Church that was forming me.
What do we believe? My dad would do his best to answer my questions, but he pointed me to other authorities: the Scriptures, the Catechism, the writings of the Holy Father, and prayer. I found answers that were credible, that made sense to me, and, as I started to read the writings of the Saints, I discovered this great cloud of witnesses, holy men and women who staked their life on the Gospel and the teaching of the Church and brought so much good into the world and lives of those around them.
I am so grateful for the witness of faith through the centuries, in members of my family, and in the Church around me, that helped me to come to know Jesus better as my dearest friend, my Saviour, and my God. A work of re-creation kept happening in my heart, separating light from darkness, again and again, light overcoming darkness.
That work is still in progress for me — as it is I’m sure in all of us. Saint Paul says that we all carry the treasure of Christ, the glorious light of Christ in clay jars or vessels. Clay vessels of course can be easily broken; their fragility disproportionate to the precious contents they are made to carry. In Japanese culture there is an art form called kintsugi that repairs broken pottery with gold or silver powder and glue. The fissures and cracks that threatened the wholeness and purpose of the jar (it cannot carry anything when broken) are, once repaired, shining veins of shimmering glory running through the vessel.
It is more beautiful having been broken and mercifully healed — each loving line of gold a sign of someone’s tender love, patience, and skill.
God’s son Jesus was broken for us in his Cross and the glory of God’s love and faithfulness shine through the wounds of his hands and side after the Resurrection. In Christ, we too can find these rich veins of grace that transform and heal, making us repaired, recreated images in him.
On the eve of my installation as the next archbishop of Edmonton, I am grateful that we have been able to meet, get to know each other a little better at the meet and greet, share faith, and sing hymns in praise of Christ who is the light shining in our hearts and, through us, to the world. The Church herself carries the mystery of this brokenness. As Christians we are asked by the Lord to let his loving light repair the fissures and tears that we have introduced.
When the late Pope Francis visited Iqaluit in July of 2022, he spoke of the Inuit custom of the qul/iq, the lamp which is carefully kept always burning in the home, obviously for light and warmth and to cook food. He encouraged the young people he was speaking to look to Christ and learn the art of discerning well. Francis said: To create a good world, the Bible tells us, God began just like that, by separating the light from the darkness (cf. Gen 1:4). We too, ifwe want to become better, must learn to distinguish light from darkness. Where do we start? You can start by asking yourself: what are the things that first strike me as glittery and seductive, but then leave me with a feeling of deep emptiness? That is the darkness! What, on the other hand, is good for me and leaves a feeling of peace in my heart, even if it first calls me to give up certain conveniences and to master certain instincts? That is the light!
I come very humbly as your archbishop and friend to encourage you and me to look to the Light and not to lose heart, as Paul says. Coming to faith in Christ means that this conversion of darkness into light, stranger into son, foolishness into wisdom, falsehood into truth is taking place. We are not perfect. No one of us evangelizes from a position of pride, but witness to the beauty of the God who loves us and has reached down from heaven to save us. We simply, humbly strive to live Jesus Christ, not to falsify God’s word, but to be an open statement of the Truth who has shown and given himself to us in Jesus. Paul says we have renounced shameful things but are witnesses to the glory of Christ that is healing the cracks and fissures of our jar or shining through them by teaching us love and compassion, patience, and perseverance on the path to the unity willed by God.
The highpoint of Vespers, the Church’s evening prayer, is the singing the Canticle of Mary and the Lord’s Prayer. In Luke’s Gospel, Mary’s song foreshadows and describes the luminous kingdom of God that Jesus teaches us to pray for.
May these songs and prayers tonight encourage us to engage in the ministry of witnessing to Jesus Christ and to not lose heart for the Church or for our unity. We have seen the Light shining in darkness, we know Him and He knows and calls us to bring his light and love into the cracks and fissures of our world. This is creation, re-creation, make no mistake. A lot is at stake. But the extraordinary power belongs to God. My soul, your soul, just magnifies, glorifies the Lord and gives him space to work.
