"John Paul II: A lamp burning brightly."

Try to figure out who wrote this:

Or is he? It is a curious fact that, as the world grows more technically complex and sophisticated, the yearning for spiritual truth grows as well. In an age when the clergy tend to pander to secular appetites, Pope John Paul reminds us that elemental verities, basic moral assumptions, are just as valid today as they ever were in the past. It is no surprise that the Pope's public appearances should garner such interest and such numbers of people, as well as the attention of politicians.

So, who do you think wrote that? Fr. Ray? I wish I had written it, but sadly I can't claim the credit. Bishop Mulvee, perhaps? Cardinal Ratzinger from Rome? One of those conservative radio talk show hosts? No, no and no again. Believe it or not, my brothers and sisters, that little piece was written by the editors of the Providence Journal (it appeared in last Tuesday's edition). Yes, my friends, miracles do happen! And it proves one point: it proves that in the midst of great darkness, a burning lamp stands out! Jesus says to us today, "You are the light of the world. . . . Men do not light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket. They set it on a stand where it gives light to all in the house." The Holy Father has been a blazing lamp in the Church (and in the world!) for the last 21 years--so much so that even his enemies have had to sit up and take notice. You see, I have no doubt that there are people at the Providence Journal who absolutely detest nearly everything that John Paul II stands for: they oppose what he says about moral absolutes, they oppose what he says about the Church and her prerogatives, they oppose what he says about subjects like contraception and the dignity of the human person. (I have no doubt about this because there are also practicing Catholics who feel the very same way--shame on them!) But in spite of their opposition these journalists must admit: the lamp stands out! Like it or not, they can't deny that the lamp is there in the midst of the darkness, burning brightly! And praise God that they've noticed, because noticing a burning lamp like John Paul II is sometimes the first step in the conversion process! Jesus makes that clear in this text. He says, "Your light must shine before men so that they may see goodness in your acts and give praise to your heavenly Father." Jesus is telling us that some people will begin to have conversions to the faith if we are burning lamps for the Lord. Maybe some of the editors of the Providence Journal are beginning to have this type of experience, thanks to the witness of the Holy Father. We can only hope--and pray--that that's the case.

Which should lead us to ask: What makes the Holy Father such a brightly-burning lamp? (That question is important because if we know what makes him a brightly-burning lamp, we'll know what we need to do to become the same kind of lamp!) And please do not say: "This is not for me. It's only for people like the pope." The words of today's Gospel are from the Sermon on the Mount. That sermon was addressed to everybody--not only to people who serve God full-time like the Holy Father does!

So, what's his secret? What makes John Paul II a brightly-burning lamp for Jesus Christ? I think the answer is found in the image itself. You see, I don't think it's a coincidence that our Lord spoke of a lit lamp in this context. Because a lamp which is lit does two things at the very same time: it gives off heat, and it gives off light. You don't get one without the other. And there's the secret: to be a brightly burning lamp for the Lord we must give off heat and light at the very same time! What is heat? Heat is love. What is light? Light is truth. To be a burning lamp we must give off love and truth. Which should help us to understand why there aren't enough burning lamps in our modern world right now: it's because in today's world people very often separate their love from the truth. That's a very common error. Consequently, their "love" ultimately becomes destructive. Abortion provides with a very clear example of this phenomenon: proponents of abortion claim to "love" women, but in their "love" they completely forget the truth: the truth that human life begins at conception; the truth that every human being is to be respected from the moment of conception until the moment of natural death. And so in their "love without truth," these so-called "pro-choicers" ultimately condone the destruction of human beings made in the image and likeness of God.

Another clear example of this concerns the issue of pre-marital sex. Those who engage in pre-marital sex say they do so out of "love"--because they care deeply about the other person. But their love (sincere though it might be) has been severed from the truth: the truth contained in the sixth commandment; the truth that sex is a gift from God which is for marriage and marriage only. Sadly, as some of us may know by experience, many a heart has been broken because of this type of "love without truth."

In his visit to St. Louis last week, the Holy Father said this to the young people gathered at the Kiel Center:

Do not listen to those who encourage you to lie, to shirk responsibility, to put yourselves first. Do not listen to those who tell you that chastity is passe. In your hearts you know that true love is a gift from God and respects his plan for the union of man and woman in marriage. Do not be taken in by false values and deceptive slogans, especially about your freedom. True freedom is a wonderful gift from God, and it has been a cherished part of your country's history. But when freedom is separated from truth, individuals lose their moral direction and the very fabric of society begins to unravel.

That's the kind of message that gets cheers from young people all over the world--and even sometimes (miraculously) from the editors of the Providence Journal. How can a tough message like that elicit such cheers? Simple: young people realize that the man speaking the words loves them deeply--they realize that his love is rooted in truth and that he loves them enough to tell them the truth.