Imagine you're in a dark room. Completely dark. But there are whispers all around you. Telling you you're not enough. Saying you'll never be forgiven. Saying God doesn't love you anymore. Telling you lie after lie, wanting you to doubt God's mercy. In your hands, you're holding a candle. It's unlit, and it will do you no good.
You see someone in the distance, and you somehow know that it is Jesus. You see Him walking in front of you, turning around, looking all around Him, and calling your name. You don't say anything. You just feel relief. He locks His gaze with yours. And the candle gets brighter. He walks closer. Even brighter. He reaches out, grabs your hand, and pulls you to Himself, hugging you. You fall limp in His arms for a moment and then return his embrace. You look up. The candle you were holding has become so brightly lit that it has illuminated the entire room! You look back at Jesus, and He looks into your eyes, smiles softly, and says, "Come, follow me."
He leads you out of the room, and you are blinded by the light of the candles people around you are holding. They are all together, laughing, and praising God! Jesus nudges you towards them, and you go and join them! You heal. Being with the light- in the light- helps you to heal from the lies that have been whispered into your soul. You feel loved. You feel like you belong. You know you are forgiven.
You stay there for a while. You're not sure how long. And then Jesus catches your eye. He motions to you and mouths, "Come." and you do. He leads you out into a dark hallway. He brings you to the first doorway. You can hear the same whispers a you had heard before. Jesus knocks on the door, and says, "Go. I'll come soon." and you (somewhat hesitantly) enter the room. In the corner is a person. Crying. At the end of their rope. They look up. Your candle is bright- as bright as it was when you were the one trapped in the dark. The room is illuminated by your candle.
The person in the corner stops crying- is just sniffling now. You embrace them and reassure them that the whispers are wrong- They ARE loved. God WILL forgive them. They do NOT have to be afraid. And slowly, very slowly, the flame of their candle lights up. Jesus opens the door. The person with the newly lit candle looks to Him, and peace fills their face. Jesus smiles and says to them, "Come, follow me." As the person follows Him out of the room, Jesus turns to you and whispers, "Well done!" You walk out of the room behind them and turn to the next doorway, your light even brighter than it had been before, and you begin again.
Friend, in today's second reading, St. Paul writes:
"This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance:
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
Of these I am the foremost.
But for that reason I was mercifully treated,
so that in me, as the foremost,
Christ Jesus might display all his patience as an example
for those who would come to believe in him for everlasting life." (1 Timothy 1:15-17)
Paul was a great sinner. Through Him, through His ministry, He brought so many people to know the love and mercy of God.
You are called to do the same. Please, don't believe the lies that are whispered in the darkness. Please allow Jesus to heal you, to light your candle! Those of us who have know the darkness of sin, the darkness of the world, the darkness of grief and sorrow are the ones who Jesus is specifically calling to bring the light of mercy to His children who are still living in the darkness. You are loved; you are forgiven. The Sacrament of Reconciliation has wiped your soul completely clean! Your candle can shine ever brighter in the darkness because it is so bright now. Bring your candle to the darkness. Find those who need the light, and spread the light of God's mercy to the world! "I was mercifully treated... so that... Christ Jesus might display all his patience..." Patience, in this case, is another word for mercy. God wants to use you, like St. Paul, to spread His message of mercy!
Will you say yes and help Him?
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