About two weeks ago, when I was at work and it was approaching 5:00 PM, looking out the window, I noticed that it was not pitch black at that time, like it had been for weeks before. It was a little bit lighter outside. I don’t know if it was the first day that 5:00 was a little bit lighter or if it had already been that way for a few days, but as I walked out to my vehicle, it was noticeably different. The sky still wasn’t super light at that time, but that little bit of light was enough for me to notice. It was a reminder to me that the smallest bit of light can make a difference. We can be a light in this dark world and make a difference.
The world is filled with darkness. Wherever you look, it seems like darkness is everywhere. But Jesus’ light is so much greater than the darkness. And we are all called to allow the light of Christ to shine within us. In the Gospel for this coming Sunday, Jesus tells His disciples, “you are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). We have the ability to let the light of Christ shine through us by living out our faith. Do we allow His light to shine through us or do we try to conceal it, in order to not stand out, or to hide our faith?
We receive the light of Christ at our baptism, with the mission to keep the light burning. But, we can let things get in the way. By attending mass, receiving the eucharist, going to confession, building a life of prayer, doing charitable works, reading scripture, we can keep the light burning. We must keep our eyes on Jesus, remain vigilant, surround ourselves with a strong faith community, and be open and ready to share our faith. Christ can work through us.
Each day, I hope and pray that I can be Christ’s light, even if it seems like the tiniest bit of light in the dark world. The light, no matter how seemingly small, will shine in the darkness. Because Jesus is greater and more powerful than all of the darkness. And we have the ability to bring that light to the world around us. My prayer for today is that we would all shine the light of Jesus, allowing others to see Him.
Faith and The Good Stuff 