7th December 2009
Dear Friends,
13th December is the Feast Day of St Lucy (have you heard of her?!) Lucy's name means 'light'; it has the same root as 'lucid', meaning 'clear, radiant and understandable'. Unfortunately for us, Lucy's history does not match her name. All we really know for certain is that this brave woman – who lived in Syracuse, Sicily – lost her life in the persecution of Christians in the early fourth century. The early church venerated her and by the sixth century her courage in defence of the faith was widely recognised.
Legends arose in an attempt to shed light on Lucy's bravery. One tells the story of a young Christian woman whose mother tried to arrange a marriage for her with a pagan. But Lucy had vowed her life to the service of Christ. Knowing that her mother would not be convinced by a young girl's vow, she devised a plan to convince her mother that Christ was a much more powerful partner for life. After praying, her mother's long illness was miraculously cured. The grateful mother was now ready to listen to Lucy's desire, which was that she should give her money to the poor and commit her life to God. Unfortunately, the rejected bridegroom – possibly jealous at the loss of money that would have come to him on their marriage – betrayed Lucy to the governor as a Christian. This governor tried to send her into prostitution as a punishment but the guards who came to take her away found her stiff and too heavy to move. They tried to burn her alive but she was miraculously preserved, dying in the end by the sword. Another legend arose in which Lucy's eyes were put out before her death. This legend concludes with God restoring Lucy's eyes. However, it was the meaning behind her name that was significant in Lucy being named as the patron saint of the blind.
Many Christians endured incredible torture and died a painful death for their faith during Diocletian's reign. Lucy may not, in fact, have been burned or had a sword thrust through her throat but many Christians did suffer such a fate and in one way or another her faith certainly withstood tests that we can barely imagine. Whatever the facts, the truth is that her courage to stand up and be counted as a Christian in spite of torture and the threat of death is the light that should lead us on our own journeys through life. Joshua 1:9 says, 'Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.'
Saint Lucy did not hide her light under a basket, but let it shine for the whole world, for people all down the centuries to see. We may not suffer torture in the way that she did, but we are still called to let the light of Christ illumine our daily lives. Let us have the courage to bring our faith into our work, our recreation, our relationships, our conversation and every part of our day.
A Bible passage that reminds us of this is John 1:1-5. 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God … In him was life, and that life was the light of men and women. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.'
Agapé,
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