Made a Mistake? Good: How Christ Transforms Our Worst Decisions

Good morning, everyone. I truly appreciate the fact that you felt comfortable driving over here on this Sunday. Of course, not everybody feels that way. As the Bishop mentioned, for those who feel like they couldn’t make it today, there is no longer the Sunday obligation. If you’re here because you felt obliged, I can tell you that in these readings today, there is something very interesting.

The Theme of Light in Today’s Readings

You notice this theme of light. The Lord is my light and my salvation. Here in the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Upon those who dwell in the land of gloom, a light has shown.

Then in the reading of St. Paul, the letter to the Corinthians, he complains. Some people are saying that you belong to me. Some people are saying you belong to Apollos. Some people belong to Cephas. I belong to Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you?

Light Penetrates Everything

In today’s readings, we are called to be light for others. The light that we give to others has to be the light that comes from Christ.

Light permeates. It is capable of existing everywhere. If there’s a part in your life where you think that God wasn’t involved, then I would invite you to reconsider because the light of Christ can penetrate anything, even the darkness. “Those who lived in darkness have seen a great light.” “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” The light of Christ penetrates everything.

What’s one of the things that tortures us more than anything else? That question: Did I make the right decision? Did I do the right thing? That question tortures all of us.

You can rest easy and at peace because the light of Christ penetrates everything. God can turn anything into grace as long as God is there, as long as you invite the Lord to be in your life.

A Simple Example: The Cookie Run

Yesterday, I said to myself, I’m going to go out in the horrible weather and I’m going to go to Central Market and I’m going to buy some cookies. Can you imagine how stupid I am? I saw this advertisement for maple cream cookies, and I love maple cream. So Central Market has it.

Yesterday, I went out. Can you imagine, if I had gotten in an accident, and then why did you go out? I had a craving for cookies. Can you imagine how stupid that would have sounded? How dangerous, you say to yourself.

But when I went out there, I found out that our organist, our music director, didn’t have a ride to come to Mass in the evening. So I was able to go from the cookies (I did buy the cookies) and then I was able to go pick our music director up so that she could then play piano for the five o’clock Mass yesterday.

That’s just a little example of how even when we make a big mistake, even if we did something that we shouldn’t have done, Christ can penetrate into that decision and he can turn it into grace.

Circumstances Don’t Determine Outcomes

Let me give you a few more examples. We always say to ourselves, if I grew up in a better neighborhood, if my family had more money, if my parents had not separated, if my friends had been better.

We always say it. You grew up in a poor neighborhood, you’re gonna end up in a gang, you’re gonna end up taking drugs. Not necessarily. In fact, some people will even attribute their success to the hardship that they endured.

Then you grow up in a great neighborhood where everybody lives in mansions, and there’s one friend in high school that introduces you to drugs, and everything falls to pieces. What happened? Great neighborhood, great school, and yet it didn’t turn out.

Christ penetrates every layer. Your neighborhood, your school, your work, your family, your siblings, your friends, your brain, your talents, everything. As long as it is for the Lord. As long as you invite the Lord into your life, no matter what circumstance you find yourself in, it can turn into a grace, into a blessing.

Belonging to Christ

That’s why St. Paul writes, it’s not who we belong to. It’s not like I’m better than this one, and this one is better than me. No, I belong to Christ. I belong to Christ.

Why? Because it’s Christ that is the light of my salvation. It’s because Christ takes the darkness in my life and can illuminate it, and bring light to it, can make the reality of his presence known.

My dear brothers and sisters today, and in the rest of our lives, whenever you make a decision, ask the Lord to be a part of your decision. After you’ve done that, into your hands, Lord, I commend my life.

Amen?

Amen.