The Lure of the Will-O’-The-Wisp: Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Easter – Year A

In Scottish and English folklore,
people tell of the will-o’-the-wisp,
mischievous lights in the bogs and swamps
carried by fairies and goblins
that lead lost travelers to their doom.
As the travelers follow those elusive and fickle lights,
they leave the path behind,
and when the lights are extinguished
the travelers are even more lost than when they began.

On our journey of faith we sometimes lose our way,
following will-o’-the-wisps.

We get lost, like those travelers in the woods
who wander off the path, following the goblin lights.
We’re looking for fulfillment, for happiness, for peace.
But so many of the things we chase after only bring us
the illusion of fulfillment,
the illusion of happiness,
the illusion of peace.

And when the illusion fades we feel lost.
We open our eyes one day and wonder, Where am I?
What am I doing with my life?
How did I get myself into this situation?
We don’t know how we got here, and we don’t know how to get back.
We feel the panic rise in our throats, and our hearts beat faster.

Panic is starting to set in for the disciples in today’s gospel.
It’s the Last Supper and the meal has turned bleak.

First, the disciples have heard that there’s a traitor in their midst.
Next, Jesus tells them that he’s leaving and they can’t follow him.
And finally, he says that Peter will deny him three times.

Jesus sees the looks on their faces — the doubts, the fears, the panic.
He understands that the disciples are on the verge of losing their way.
He knows that when he’s arrested they will scatter.

In their panic and in our panic, Jesus speaks the words we need to hear.
Just as the forest seems to close in on us
when the lights of the will-o’-the-wisp vanish,
Just as our hearts begin to pound,
Jesus gives us words of consolation and strength.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled,” he says.
“You have faith in God; have faith also in me.”
“I’m going away, but I’m coming back for you. You know the way.”

But Thomas speaks aloud what’s on everyone’s mind:
“We don’t know where you’re going; how can we know the way?”

Like a lost traveler, we want a map, some sort of clue or hint.
Maybe if we had a compass, or a flashlight, or a GPS,
then we could find a way out ourselves.

But what is the first rule of being lost?
What does every parent tell their child to do if they get lost?
What does every experienced hiker, skier, hunter, and fisherman
know to do if they get separated from the group and lose their way?

Stop!
Stay put!
Call for help.
Stay where you are;
wait for Mom or Dad or the search party to come find you.

Whenever we went camping with the kids
we would remind them:
if you wander off and get lost
just stay where you are.
We will look for you and find you.
If you keep moving you’re harder to find,
and it will take us longer.
Stop, stay where you are, and call for help.
Don’t go chasing after things that aren’t there.

When we feel lost we often go chasing after will-o’-the-wisps.
We chase after illusions that seem to be real,
that seem to promise a way through life:
Pleasure, power, money, success.
Like the lights of the will-o’-the-wisp,
these seem to lead us toward home,
but they so often lead us deeper into the dark woods,
and then they disappear.

If we pause right now, I’m sure we can think of the will-o’-the-wisp
that’s been beckoning us on most recently.

When we find ourselves lost in the woods
of sin, doubt, confusion, or fear,
our best bet is stop and stay put.

But we stay put when we’re spiritually lost
for a different reason than when we’re lost in the woods.
When we’re lost in the forest,
we remain where we are so people can find us.
But when we’re spiritually lost
we stay put so we can find Jesus.

We stop what we’re doing so we can look and listen
for his presence among us.
We find Jesus in the still moments,
in the quiet moments.

We stay put so we have a chance to discern what to do next.

We call for help and ask God to be with us.

And Emmanuel, “God with us,” is present.
In the midst of our sin, doubt, confusion, and fear,
Jesus is always with us.

We can be spiritually lost, but we are never alone.
Once we realize we are lost, the best thing to do is
stop, stay put, and call for help:
A pause for a moment of prayer in the middle of the day,
A visit to the Blessed Sacrament chapel,
A phone call to a friend for advice,
A walk outside with a husband or wife.

Stopping and staying put
gives us time and attention to notice God’s presence
in the midst of our anxiety.

God always comes to find us.
He always seeks us,
and no matter how lost we are,
He will find us.
Because he is already with us.

He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
He says to us,
“I will come back again and take you to myself,
so that where I am you also may be.”

Jesus is the way out of the dark forest.
If we come here today feeling lost, feeling alone,
Then this is exactly the place to be.
Jesus waits for us here especially,
at the table of this Eucharist.
Here we stop.
Here we stay put.
Here we call for help.

And if we aren’t feeling especially lost or alone today,
then we come here to thank God for making us aware of his presence,
for coming to rescue us from the dark forest.
And we witness to everyone here that God does come back for us.

That Jesus, the Way, shows us where to go.
That Jesus, the Truth, breaks through our will-o’-the-wisp illusions.
That Jesus, the Life, nourishes us with his Body and Blood.
So that where he is, we also will be,
And we will never be lost again.

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