YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD
Over the last few weeks our readings have focused on Christ as the light of the world. At Christmas we hear the beginning of John’s Gospel where it says, “The Word was the real light that gives light to everyone”. At Epiphany the wise men followed the light of the star which brought them to Christ. A couple of Sundays ago we heard Matthew quoting Isaiah, “the people that lived in darkness has seen a great light” in his description of the beginning of Jesus Preaching. Finally, in the account of last Sunday’s feast of the Presentation, Simeon took the infant Jesus in his arms and saying, “My eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared for all nations, the light to enlighten the gentiles and the glory of your people Israel”. In today’s Gospel Jesus picks up the same image of the light of the world but uses it in a very different way.
It is characteristic of Jesus that he takes things which we might expect to be said about himself and apply them to his disciples. In John’s Gospel Jesus tells his disciples “as the Father sent me so I am sending you”. In Mark’s Gospel Jesus’ account of what it is to be a disciple speaks about taking up the cross like him being poor and humble. Today Jesus tells his disciples that they are light of the world.
What does this mean for us? Through our baptism we share in the mission of Christ and the Church and be the signs of Christ in our world. In his exhortation Evangeli Gaudium, Pope Francis calls us to share the Joy of the Gospel. He reminds us that “no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord” and that if we are to radiate that joy we need to let Jesus Christ encounter us each day. We do this in prayer, in the Mass and in recognising him in the people around us. Spreading the Gospel is not just a case of what we say. Yes, we do need courage to stand up for our faith and the values which go with it. However, spreading the Gospel is also about how we live. Is God at the centre of our lives or do we let other things get in the way? Are we open to others, especially those who are
poor and in greatest need? Do we do all we can to promote the common good and respect God’s creation? If these things are true of us then our “light will shine in the sight of men”. We will be the “salt of the earth”, giving the flavour to human life. We will be living out or baptismal mission to bring the light of Christ to our world.
Fr Chris Pedley, S.J.