March 14, 2021
We are continuing our homily series, “Travel the World in 7 mins.” The first week we went to Mexico and reflected on the desert and how Jesus too went to the desert. The second week we went to Canada and reflected on camping and setting up tents and how the disciples wanted to pitch three tents to be with Jesus, last week we went to Port au Prince, Haiti and reflected on the cathedral that had collapsed because of the earthquake and how Jesus when speaking about the destruction of the Temple was actually speaking about himself and the Resurrection. Today where are we heading? Today we are heading to Krakow, Poland.
A few years ago I was in Krakow with my mother and sisters and visited a few sites. One day we woke up early and went to visit Auschwitz. I had just finished my thesis in Philosophy on Human Freedom and one of my questions from the beginning of my research was, “How is it possible that there can be a Hitler? And how is it possible that there can be a St. John Paul II? How can one person choose so much evil and one person choose so much goodness? I knew that Poland had experienced the power of both.
But on our way to Auschwitz we stopped in for a tour of the Salt Mines. Have you ever heard of the Polish salt mines? They are truly incredible. We got into an elevator and went down hundreds of feet into the ground… down into the dark depths of the earth. As we stepped out of the elevator and walked down the stairs however, we stepped into a brilliantly lit, crystal like palace. There were chandeleers, amazing chapels, a soccer field… all under the earth where it was supposed to be dark there was a brilliant light, and the salt reflected the light as if it were crystal and glass. It was incredible.
I think this is what this Gospel is about. God who is love came down into a dark world filled with selfishness and hatred. God who is light, came down into the darkness and evil. Darkness and evil tried to suppress goodness, God, the light, love and right when it seemed that darkness and evil had conquered, Jesus rose. Jesus resurrected. Jesus overpowered the darkness with light. Jesus overcame evil with goodness. Jesus overcame selfishness and hatred with love. As we read today:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”
“And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.”
“But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.”
Let us ask Jesus today that he may come into our hearts and dispel hatred and selfishness with his love. Let us pray that he may come into our hearts in the Eucharist and dispel the darkness and fill our hearts with his love!
If you need anything, never hesitate to ask me.
God bless you and your loved ones, Fr. Kramer Cameron, LC