Weekly HOMILY for June 17, 2007: Our Shadows As Revelation

11th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C
Our Lady of Grace
June 17, 2007

Our Shadows As Revelation
By (Rev. Msgr.) Nicholas P. Amato


Our Shadows

This morning, let’s think for a minute about shadows.

For example, if I stand with my back to the sun (point to sun at rear of Worship Space and turn to altar), I am definitely going to see my shadow. My body (gesture) will cast a shadow and I will see it.

But, if I stand facing the sun (turn toward the rear of the Worship Space), my shadow will be behind me. It is still there, but I just don’t see it and am not aware of it.


Our Shadows and God

Now, let’s identify our physical shadow with something in my life – the dark, shadowy side of my life – that I am not proud of. Maybe it is something I have done or a trait that is almost part of my personality and I can’t seem to shake, like impatience, anger, or addiction to some substance.

And, let’s identify the sun before me, as God or Jesus. Let’s see the sun as the light and love and life of God pouring down on me.

Now notice, I only see my shadow when I have my back turned to God (turn toward the altar) – the sun. When I do that, I am focused on my shadow and even pershpas living out of it.

On the other hand, when I am facing God (turn to the rear of the Worship Space) – the sun –, my shadow doesn’t disappear. It is still there, but the important difference is that I am not focused on it or living out of it.


Today’s Scripture

This is a powerful way to understand all three of today’s Scripture readings and especially the Gospel.

The woman in the gospel has come to terms with her shadow and has turned to Jesus. Her shadow remains part of her past and part of her life indeed, but it is in a sense put behind her.

She experiences God’s forgiveness and moves beyond her shadow. If we examine this Gospel, we can see three revelations to us regarding our shadows.


Lesson 1: All Have Shadows

The first revelation is that we all have shadows, yes, even me or maybe especially me!

Jesus tells the story about the creditor and the debtors, and an underlying point is that we all have something that needs forgiveness. It may be little or great, but it is there – our shadow.

This is a core truth of life and of our relationship with God.

Each of us has a shadow and it is important that we are aware of it and admit it. And if you don’t think you have one, then that’s your shadow, namely, you just don’t know yourself well enough!


Lesson 2: Face God/ the Sun

The second revelation is that we all have a need to turn and face God, who is the sun or the light for our lives.

We can do this by a statement of faith, by entrusting ourselves to the power of God. We can do this by prayer, by the Eucharist and by the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

If we are willing to face the sun – s-u-n – or the Son – S-o-n – then God lovingly forgives us of the sin or the trait that makes up the shadow side of us, much as Jesus does with the woman in the Gospel.

Yes it’s true: God draws us into his light, his love, his life and through that drawing and shining down upon us, he empowers us to live in him.

Yes, our shadow is still there, but it is, in a sense, behind us. It no longer has to determine what we do or who we are.


Lesson 3: Don’t Look at Others’ Shadows

And the third revelation is that we need to be careful not to get focused on the shadows of others.

When we are facing God, the Son, we can still see the shadows of others, whether they are facing God or not. But we ought not to get focused on their shadows.

This is what the Pharisee named Simon is doing in today’s Gospel. He thinks he is facing God, but he is really focused on the woman’s shadow and he feeling very self-righteous and condescending.

Amazingly, in focusing on the shadow of the woman, Simon is really living out of his own shadow without even knowing it.

So, a telltale sign of really living in our own shadow, even when we think we are facing God, is when we get focused on the shadows of others.

We as individuals can easily slide into this with one another. And frankly, we as a Church can get into this in the way we talk about or treat others who in our estimation do not seem to be facing God fully, such as politicians.

Far better to make sure we are facing the Lord, the Light! And far better for us to invite others respectfully and positively to face the Lord also!


Conclusion

So, a powerful lesson about our shadows this morning!