Homily for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
“You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.”-Matthew 5:14-16
Some parents become anxious at success almost as much as at failure. Whenever little Johnny would come home and tell his mother of something he had done that day, like, “I hit a home run” or “I got an A on a pop quiz” (excuse my antique terminology: do they have those anymore?), she would respond with the killjoy comment, “Self-praise stinks.” And his sisters were met with sarcasm when they seemed too happy with their weight or appearance.
Well, obviously this mother had had the experience of someone who was vain or boastful, and she wanted her children not to be that way themselves. Despite this good intention, she went about things the wrong way.
Sure, boasting is an unattractive quality, but a child who is offering the good news of an accomplishment is simply acknowledging that he has learned to judge as good what those who take care of him judge to be good. If he thinks that good grades and athletic prowess are desirable and reachable things, then he is very likely to get good grades and strive to play well on the field.
But if his victories are treated as insignificant or morally dangerous, then he may just stop trying. Or a daughter who is criticized for caring for her looks could become dejected or feel unlovable.
Why, then, do we give our children opportunities for success, if we do not rejoice with them in their successes as a way of encouraging them to go further and to persevere? It is not pride to know our own strengths, just as it is not despair to know our own weaknesses.
If we are like this we should examine our consciences for traces of envy, which is being unhappy at another’s good, or anger, which views the happiness of others as an injustice that must be avenged. These can be subtle things, masquerading as a concern for morality.
In yesterday’s Gospel, the Savior told us to let our light shine: not to hide our good deeds but seek God’s glory in them and the encouragement of our neighbor. God declared his own work good and even “very” good. Being made in his image, we should also rejoice in our good qualities and deeds. The purpose of this recognition is to glorify God and cheer up our neighbor in his struggles.
Praising the good that others do—our children, our spouses, our friends—will go a long way to establishing our communities in love, for love is nothing other than bestowing and recognizing what is good. We need to start with these everyday occasions for grateful praise, and thus create the environment for the praise of God and for the seeking, not just of success in school or sports or business, or in looks and social connections, but holiness, the good of God’s grace flourishing in our hearts because we have humbled ourselves to know the good in ourselves and others and praise it.
Then if our kids end up being smarter, or richer, or better looking, or holier than Mom or Dad, we will be happy about it, and not belittle their accomplishments. Rather we will glorify the works of God in them and give thanks that we have been given our part. Let us never, ever call another’s happiness or desire to share it with us as “self-praise.” That really would stink. What our families need to know is that we are happy they are in the world shining with their own unique light for the glory of God and our joy!