Journeying: 3rd Sunday Ordinary A – The Streetlight Effect

The Streetlight Effect – The key is in the dark but the search is where the light is.

I’m sure all of you have heard this popular story:

“A policeman sees a drunk man searching for something under a streetlight and asks what the drunk has lost. He says he lost his keys and they both look under the streetlight together. After a few minutes the policeman asks if he is sure he lost them here, and the drunk replies, no, and that he lost them in the park. The policeman asks why he is searching here, and the drunk replies, "this is where the light is."

This is called the “streetlight effect” - this term was coined by David Freedman in 2010 book “Wrong.” (However the story and concept has been used by social scientists way back in 1964 like Abraham Kaplan who referred to this as the “principle of the drunkard’s search.”) The streetlight effect simply points out to us that people tend to look and search for something where it is easiest. In short it is an observational bias.

But in today’s gospel there is a turnaround (Mt. 3:12-23). There is this prophecy of Isaiah which was fulfilled: “Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali! Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan, Galilee of the nations! The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light; on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death a light has dawned.” And by now after all those Christmas season celebrations we know and we believe that Isaiah refers to the true Light of the World, none other than Jesus Christ. And that passage is followed by: From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.” Simply put, Jesus tells us: “I am the Light, don’t go into the darkness because that is not where you will find what you are looking for. Search into the light. Follow the true light. Follow me.”

Like the sreetlight effect it is so easy for us to agree to following Christ by our words because we think it would be easy and definitely favorable for us. We were like those fishermen Jesus found tending their boats.“As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him. He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.”

Streetlight effect – they thought Jesus could offer something more than fish to them, a life better than they could imagine – “fishers of men” – what a nice title. But later on they would realize that following the light of the world – Jesus - would not be easy…. Now this is the challenge of Jesus for them and for us which is different from the streetlight because under that false light you will never find what you are looking for…. Jesus on the other hand, lights your way – a way which might be rough and filled with temptations and difficulties…. But unlike the streetlight that stays put, Jesus will accompany you to the darkest corners of the earth to find whatever you are searching for. But for that to happen you have to respond to his call no matter how hard it may be… You have to follow his Light even if it takes you to the darkest valleys of your life as you journey through your darkest nights.

The gospel today ends with:

“He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people. His light shone through the darkness.” The apostles he called followed him, all would experience persectutions in doing so, but the Light of Christ would see them through.

We too will be called to do difficult things- perhaps join the choir, read in church, or perhaps give your share to help our less privileged Cambodian brothers and sisters in this school. Be sensitive to the call. Do not hide in the darkness or try to find what you are looking for under the streetlight. The answer is already in front of us – it is He we will receive in a few moments in Holy Communion. He is the light of our soul with Him we cannot be lost and will always find what we are looking for…. But always with a price … a sacrifice on our part.