New York Blackout of 1977
Jesus says that we are the light of the world. Just how important is light?
On July 17, 1977, New York City was suffering under a punishing heatwave. Thunderheads formed in the late afternoon of July 17, and by 8pm lightning was flashing all over the city. Bolts struck three of ConEdison’s central power stations, causing system overload and successive failures. At 9:36pm the entire city went dark. I can remember visiting my cousins in the Bronx a month after the Blackout, hearing horror stories of looting and arson, and seeing blocks of burned-out buildings. In all, 1,616 stores were damaged in looting and rioting. 1,037 fires were responded to, including 14 multiple-alarm fires. In the largest mass arrest in city history, 3,776 people were incarcerated in one night. Many had to be stuffed into overcrowded cells, precinct basements and other makeshift holding pens.
Light of the World
What dark spirit gripped New York on that night in 1977? It was like the whole city panicked in the blackness. We are all scared of the dark, really. Remember when Mom and Dad would turn off the light and leave you alone in the room? I used to imagine a slimy hand would come up from under my bed, grasping for my throat. I’m still scared of the dark. How about you?
Jesus cried out, in another Gospel, I am the Light of the World. And in today’s Gospel, he says that we are the light of the world. But surely, this light does not emanate from ourselves. What illumination could we poor human beings possibly offer? Put us together in a city without light, and we disintegrate into rioting, looting, and burning within a few hours. When Jesus says we are the light of the world, he means we reflect His light.
In the first reading, Isaiah promises that if you “do not turn your back on your own … your light shall break forth like the dawn … if you bestow your bread on the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted, then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.” How many of us, this past week, have turned our backs on someone. Perhaps someone who hurt us, or perhaps someone we don’t know who asked us just for a smile, a few minutes of our time? But just a smile, a kind word, is often enough to turn gloom into joy, and coldness into warmth.
Jesus says that we are the light of the world. Just how important is light?
On July 17, 1977, New York City was suffering under a punishing heatwave. Thunderheads formed in the late afternoon of July 17, and by 8pm lightning was flashing all over the city. Bolts struck three of ConEdison’s central power stations, causing system overload and successive failures. At 9:36pm the entire city went dark. I can remember visiting my cousins in the Bronx a month after the Blackout, hearing horror stories of looting and arson, and seeing blocks of burned-out buildings. In all, 1,616 stores were damaged in looting and rioting. 1,037 fires were responded to, including 14 multiple-alarm fires. In the largest mass arrest in city history, 3,776 people were incarcerated in one night. Many had to be stuffed into overcrowded cells, precinct basements and other makeshift holding pens.
Light of the World
What dark spirit gripped New York on that night in 1977? It was like the whole city panicked in the blackness. We are all scared of the dark, really. Remember when Mom and Dad would turn off the light and leave you alone in the room? I used to imagine a slimy hand would come up from under my bed, grasping for my throat. I’m still scared of the dark. How about you?
Jesus cried out, in another Gospel, I am the Light of the World. And in today’s Gospel, he says that we are the light of the world. But surely, this light does not emanate from ourselves. What illumination could we poor human beings possibly offer? Put us together in a city without light, and we disintegrate into rioting, looting, and burning within a few hours. When Jesus says we are the light of the world, he means we reflect His light.
In the first reading, Isaiah promises that if you “do not turn your back on your own … your light shall break forth like the dawn … if you bestow your bread on the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted, then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.” How many of us, this past week, have turned our backs on someone. Perhaps someone who hurt us, or perhaps someone we don’t know who asked us just for a smile, a few minutes of our time? But just a smile, a kind word, is often enough to turn gloom into joy, and coldness into warmth.
A smile
Mother Teresa tells a story on page 68 of the book Love: A Fruit Always in Season (available in our bookstore).
<<In Melbourne, I paid a visit to an old man no one knew existed. I saw that his room was in horrible condition and I wanted to clean it up, but he stopped me: “I’m all right.” I kept quiet, and finally he let me go ahead. In his room was a beautiful lamp, covered with dust. I asked: “why don’t you light the lamp?” he replied: “What for? Nobody comes to see me, and I don’t need a lamp.” Then I said to him: “Will you light the lamp if the Sisters come to see you?” “Yes,” he said, “if I hear a human voice, I will light it.” The other day he sent me word: “Tell my friend that the lamp she lit in my life burns constantly.”>>
The World Needs Light
We cannot live without light and warmth. New York City sunk into blood and fire within one hour of its Blackout in 1977. If the sun were to go out, scientists say that the average global temperature would drop to 0 degrees within a week, most plant life would die within three weeks, and animal life a few weeks after that. But the Light Jesus is talking about is Himself. And that light comes not from the Sun; it comes from us. Each of us are little suns, lighting up those around us. Just a smile, a kind word, a question about someone’s health or their business is enough. Without these little points of light, our lives go dark. Can you get your heart to smile at someone today who has hurt you? Can you say a kind word to someone who bores you? Just make the effort, and Jesus will do the rest. He will pour His light on all of us.
Mother Teresa tells a story on page 68 of the book Love: A Fruit Always in Season (available in our bookstore).
<<In Melbourne, I paid a visit to an old man no one knew existed. I saw that his room was in horrible condition and I wanted to clean it up, but he stopped me: “I’m all right.” I kept quiet, and finally he let me go ahead. In his room was a beautiful lamp, covered with dust. I asked: “why don’t you light the lamp?” he replied: “What for? Nobody comes to see me, and I don’t need a lamp.” Then I said to him: “Will you light the lamp if the Sisters come to see you?” “Yes,” he said, “if I hear a human voice, I will light it.” The other day he sent me word: “Tell my friend that the lamp she lit in my life burns constantly.”>>
The World Needs Light
We cannot live without light and warmth. New York City sunk into blood and fire within one hour of its Blackout in 1977. If the sun were to go out, scientists say that the average global temperature would drop to 0 degrees within a week, most plant life would die within three weeks, and animal life a few weeks after that. But the Light Jesus is talking about is Himself. And that light comes not from the Sun; it comes from us. Each of us are little suns, lighting up those around us. Just a smile, a kind word, a question about someone’s health or their business is enough. Without these little points of light, our lives go dark. Can you get your heart to smile at someone today who has hurt you? Can you say a kind word to someone who bores you? Just make the effort, and Jesus will do the rest. He will pour His light on all of us.
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