Lighthouses were invented to prevent shipwrecks. The lighthouse on Monhegan, like more (if not all) working lighthouses, is electrified. I remember once I noticed that the lighthouse was on during the day - a perfect 85 degree, blue sky day. I asked my dad why it was on, and he replied that lighthouses always have to be on. A sudden storm could come our it could get cloudy and or something might suddenly come up and you never wanted to risk having to "flip the switch"... so a lighthouse is always on because you never know what might come up.
The most famous lighthouse was in Alexandria, Egypt. It was built about 2200 years ago. It stood 450 feet high. To put that into some perspective, that's a little less than half as high as the Empire State Building. It was one of the 7 Wonders of the (Ancient) World. Just like today's lighthouses, ancient lighthouses were build and lit to prevent shipwrecks and help sailors find a safe harbor. The lighthouse at Alexandria wasn't electrified. At the top there was a fire which was always lit. Making sure it was lit meant tending a large fire, making sure there was spare fuel at all times, and hauling that fuel from the ground to the top, over and over and over. It took a lot of work to make sure the lighthouse was always on, but it was worth it. The lighthouse wasn't just a Wonder because it was big, it was a Wonder because it was amazingly useful.
In today's Gospel Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world. Being a Christian is sort of like being a lighthouse. We are called to be lights to the world, and doing that means always being "on". We all know that nothing in life "works" unless you are "on". If a Boy Scout doesn't practice tying knots, he won't be able to tie a knot when he needs to in an emergency. If a person isn't generous on a Tuesday morning, he or she isn't going to be ready to dig into his or her wallet when someone is in need. If a you or I don't learn about and regularly speak about our faith or have a regular life of prayer, then we will be at a loss of words when we are called upon to witness to Christ or offer an intercession. If you aren't always on, the opportunity to bear witness to Christ will pass you by, and it probably won't come again.
I remember once I was at a wedding. A friend of mine from college tracked me down and started questioning me about my faith and role in the church (I am an Episcopal Priest). He said: "I'm really getting into atheism, and I want to bounce a few things off of you." I thought: "Atheism? Not a whole lot there to get in to." And I said: "Look, we're at a wedding, now is not the best time. Why don't you call me at my office and we can talk." I'm still waiting for him to call..... The opportunity was lost, because I wasn't on, and a person who was in darkness was not even given the opportunity to see the light of Christ.
The lighthouse on Monhegan went out once. I remember seeing one of the bulbs burned out and black. It was a big deal. The Coast Guard came in on a helicopter and put a new light bulb in because it was essential that lighthouse always be on. Jesus said: "You are the light of the world." Its not easy to be on all the time, it takes a lot of work and diligence, but its really important that you and I always be turned on. Flipping the switch when you need it just doesn't work. Only by being "on" all the time can we ensure that the people who walk in darkness can see the light.
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