YOU ARE THE LIGHT of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Mt. 5:14-16)
These are the words of Jesus to His disciples during the Sermon on the Mount and are His instructions to us today as well. When we were baptized, we were given a candle and told, “Receive the light of Christ.” As children of the light, we are called to let God’s love shine through us by keeping the flame of faith alive in our hearts. With this hope, we will meet Christ at the end of our lives with this light burning brightly within us. Our baptism may have been decades ago, but the commission of the baptized remains: are Christ’s light in the world? Do our good deeds glorify God? Good deeds can be as simple as showing kindness to a stranger, forgiving someone who has wronged us, or helping those in need. When we hear Jesus tell us, His disciples, who we are, “You are the light of the world,” how does this resonate in you?
Jesus only speaks the truth. If we notice disbelief, doubt, or resistance to this proclamation, we need to bring these experiences to God in prayer and allow Him to be with us. We will be the light of the world when we know how to receive God’s presence in our lives, moment by moment. If we are more aware of how God loves us and invites us to receive and respond to His love, we will shine before others. Our Christian example manifested in ordinary interactions at the workplace and in our neighborhood is a light of hope for many who live in darkness. It sounds ideal, but we get distracted and busy! Our attention and energy are often taken by what we need to do in our daily lives, vocation, and duties.
Added to this list are the things we think we should do, driven by guilt or obligation. Finally, there are the things we want to do, and we can feel frustrated and resentful about the little time left to engage in these activities. Ultimately, there is a lot to do, and the commands of Jesus can sometimes feel like additional duties to add to the many lists in our life.
Throughout this past Advent season, I heard the Lord’s invitation, “Be the light.” This was challenging because I felt like there were many things to do and little time “to be.” However, I let this invitation challenge me throughout my day. I worked on projects and lists of tasks, not to mention Christmas preparations, but when people approached me or came into my routine, I received the Lord’s instruction to be present to people over projects. This requires trusting that the Lord will give us time for all the things that He is asking of me, and not my own will or plans. By the end of Advent, I experienced a new sense of peace and was able to let go of some of my own ideas and plans. Did we really need to set up three nativity scenes, or was it better to pray the Rosary with my neighbors? I chose time with my neighbors, and they ended up helping me set up one of our nativities.
The saints lead the way as lights of Christ in their unique stories and circumstances. Consider virtuous people who are a light of Christ in your life and tell them how you see the light of Christ in them. Recall the grace of your baptism and renew your commitment to keep the light of Christ burning in you so you, too, will be Christ’s light for others.