Reflect
Jesus told his followers: “You are the light of the world. . . . Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Mt 5:14, 16). With humility, you can claim your identity as God’s light. You can affirm that you matter to God and others. You can help others see God’s light in themselves and bring light to the world.
Pray
Jesus, you are the Light of the World.
You have created me as a little light
To bless others.
May I, as the song goes, “Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine . . .
Everywhere I go.”
Let me not hide my light under a bushel basket
But glorify you by shining brightly
To guide, warm, heal, and love others.
Amen.
Act
Look for the light today in yourself and others. Throughout the day, say to yourself: “I am the light of the world. I will shine God’s light in all I do.” See the light in others and treat them as fellow light bearers. Bring forth God’s light in every encounter and situation today.
1 thought on “Let Your Light Shine”
Now more than ever, we who strive to be authentic, faithful Catholic Christians must shine the light of CHRIST in the midst of this somewhat crazy world in which the darkness often seems to have the upper hand, even within & among people who reportedly were raised Catholic!
About 25 years or so ago I was an active member of a small Catholic Charismatic prayer that met in a rectory basement. Bob V., a gentle mild mannered man, had a strong gift for the prophetic Word, & the LORD gave him strong prophetic messages on more than one occasion that included words like the following: “THE POWERS OF DARKNESS ARE GROWING STRONGER, SO YOU MUST GROW STRONGER”.
Looking at the world around me in 2023–from reckless drivers of cars, motorcycles, bicycles & other vehicles, to families who neglect their loved ones & who seek to bypass the law in their greed & make money their idol, to a government that attacks concerned parents & pregnancy resource centers while ignoring sex trafficking & perpetrators of destruction of churches & pro-life organizations, to terrorists who attack innocent citizens & pilgrims, torture, rape & kill them & even behead babies but garner public support & spark antisemitism even in America–I see these prophetic words coming to fruition.
LORD, help us to be the light you have called us to be, give us the wisdom to know how & to act upon shining your light, & to make Your light within us keep growing brighter & brighter to overcome the darkness! AMEN.