Due to lack of space in the bulletin, a part of the story was not included. When my car broke down, I phoned Chuck, one of our parishioners – the owner of Fountain Tires. (a very good place for service) After sharing with him what had happened, he said to me: “Fr. I’m coming to pick you up.” “You mean, you are going to drive all the way from Penticton to Rock Creek to pick me up?” I asked. “That’s not a problem, Fr. I’ll be there soon.” I insisted he must not come. “I hope to find my way back to Penticton somehow”, I told him. “Well, if nothing happens, you have my number, just call me and we’ll come and pick you up.”
I haven’t stopped thinking about this. He had his plans for the day and he’d leave all he’d planned, to drive about 3 hours to pick me up? That’s amazing!
This is what I’ve seen in our community since my arrival. How parishioners have been there for each other, helping people in need and allowing the light of Christ to shine in our city. What I have seen is this: Catholics in Penticton allowing the light of their baptism to shine. ‘You are the light of the world, you are the salt of the earth, Jesus said in today’s Gospel.
The ministry of the Knights, CWL, St. Vincent de Paul, Discovery House, Pregnancy Support Program and other outreach ministries – all these bring about the light of Christ which causes transformation in people’s lives. They also change us and make us holy.
Once upon a time, there was a great biblical scholar who was also noted for his piety. He spent hours every day secluded in his room studying. One day a holy man visited the town in which the scholar lived. On hearing about it, the scholar set out to look for him. He looked in the Church, but didn’t find the holy man there. Then he looked in a local shrine, but he wasn’t there either. Eventually, he found the holy man in the market place. On meeting him, the scholar told him who he was, and how he spent hours every day studying and meditating. Then the scholar said: ‘I’ve come to seek your advice on how I might grow in the service of God.’ The advice he got was simple and direct. Looking at him intently, the holy man said, ‘It’s easy to be holy in your room. You should go out into the marketplace and try to be a saint there.’ It is the kind of advice Jesus himself would have given. In fact, this is exactly the advice He is giving in today’s Gospel when He said: ‘You are the light of the world.’
Have a blessed Sunday and week!
Your brother, ~ Fr. Obi