The Strength of an Eyelash

(The inspiration for this homily came from Fr. Tom Hurst, SS, who gave a day of reflection to the priests of Baltimore last Monday)

What is the root of the word “reconciliation”? It is not “conciliation.” Rather, the root is smaller than that. It is “cilia.” What does that mean? It comes from the Latin word meaning “eyelash.”

There you have it. One of the central themes of our faith, something that is at the heart of this penitential season of Lent, something that finds its source and power in the death and resurrection of Jesus, has to do – somehow – with an eyelash!

Where does it say that in the Bible? Looking at my concordance, there is “eye”, “eyebrows”, “eyeing”, “eyelids”, “eyes”… but, hmm – no “eyelash.” So what, dear preacher, you might ask, are you talking about eyelashes today for?

Well, I think that this curiosity of etymology can help us to delve deeper into our readings today – as well has get a better understanding of what we really mean and experience in Reconciliation through Jesus Christ. So, bear with me.

Today we hear the familiar line from John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” This gift of God – the gift of Himself, of His Son – is given to us for a reason: that we might not perish but have eternal life. Nicodemus, you might recall, was a member of the Sanhedrin, and a “secret disciple” of Jesus. He came to the Lord at night. That’s why Jesus’ conversation with him has so much “light” imagery in it. As Jesus recalls the story of Moses, the People of Israel and the serpent in the desert, he is calling Nicodemus to “look up,” to open his eyes and see truly.

Jesus, then, comes among us – truly alive in the flesh – in order to present to us the human face of God. It is to this human face that we are called to look as Christians – to look God in the eye – once reconciled to Him. You know how when children are in trouble they can’t look you in the eye. Their gaze seems fixed on some place on the ground or on their shoes. That is the grasp of guilt – of shame. However, God does not want us to remain like that. He gave His only Son, so that we might not perish but have the fullness of life with Him. This is the power of the Incarnation: Jesus comes among us – eyelashes and all – and calls us back. Through His power to forgive, He reconciles us, and we are able to look God in the eye again.

We are re – con – ciled.

That is the strength of an eyelash.

The light that Jesus promises in his conversations with Nicodemus is that light of faith that brings life to all who believe. Through this faith – faith in a person, Jesus Christ – we remember who we are: children of God, created for a purpose. This purpose is not to be reminded of our guilt and sin; rather, it is what St. Paul recognizes: we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.

God expects good works from us, because He has made us for this. Knowing this – that God has made and equipped us for our part in His grand divine plan – we grow in hope. This hope is present in our lives at all times – even when all seems dark – because that light of faith, the light of Christ, shines in our hearts.

Pope Benedict is in Africa this week. On Thursday, he addressed the crowd at Mass – and all of Africa – reminding them of the power of Christian faith, hope and love:

“Hoping against hope”: is this not a magnificent description of a Christian? Africa is called to hope through you and in you! With Jesus Christ, who trod the African soil, Africa can become the continent of hope! We are all members of the peoples that God gave to Abraham as his descendants. Each and every one of us was thought, willed and loved by God. Each and every one of us has a role to play in the plan of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If discouragement overwhelms you, think of the faith of Joseph; if anxiety has its grip on you, think of the hope of Joseph, that descendant of Abraham who hoped against hope; if exasperation or hatred seizes you, think of the love of Joseph, who was the first man to set eyes on the human face of God in the person of the Infant conceived by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary. Let us praise and thank Christ for having drawn so close to us, and for giving us Joseph as an example and model of love for him (B16, Homily, 3/19/09).

Today, we may be searching like Nicodemus. We are, perhaps, walking around with our eyes cast down. Maybe this is the weight of our consciences; maybe it is the burden of uncertainty about the future; maybe it is the memory of failed relationships. Whatever it might be, we still stand in need of reconciliation – that ability to look God, and one another in the eye and see the love that is present there.

When we gather around this Eucharist, we remember the moment when that reconciliation became real and effective in our lives and the life of the world – when God’s plan kicked into high gear through that gift of His only Son. Now, as we look upon Jesus on our altar, we see God among us. In turn, we look at one another and see those who, with us, are children of God. We see in the eyes of one another the love that God has placed in our world.

That is the true love that is shown in Christ. That is the strength of an eyelash.