Jesus calls Himself the light of the world, and He is the ultimate light. Yet, He also tells His disciples, “You are the light of the world.” He continues, “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Each of us has a light to shine, and when we keep it burning brightly, the world itself becomes a brighter place.
While parts of the world shine with goodness, much of it remains in darkness. From the moment Satan first interacted with humanity, he has worked to separate us from eternal life and true happiness. He and his minions spread lies and confusion to lead people astray. Satan tempts us with the idea that we can be like God, indulge every desire, and simply relax and enjoy ourselves. He presents this path as the way to happiness. It may bring temporary pleasure, but it ultimately leaves us empty and unfulfilled.
St. Augustine of Hippo captured this truth when he wrote, “My soul is restless until it rests in You.” God created us in His image and likeness, and our deepest happiness comes only when we are united with Him. This is the message the world needs to hear. Too often, we hide our light or fear letting it shine. Spreading the Good News is not only the responsibility of the clergy. Every one of us is called to bring light and truth into the world.
The closer we remain to God, the brighter our light will shine. The opposite is also true. When we turn away from God and cling to the pleasures of the world, we drift into darkness. Many people become so conditioned to chasing temporary physical pleasures that they no longer know how to receive the eternal joy God offers. Just as a drug addict must wean himself from substances that damage his body, a sinner must let go of whatever causes spiritual harm before becoming a beacon for others. All of us struggle with sin in one way or another, and life becomes a continual battle between sin and virtue.
We must remain aware of the strength of our light. When it begins to grow dim, we should focus on strengthening it. Just as a fire needs fuel and oxygen to burn, our souls need prayer, Scripture, and fellowship as fuel, along with the Holy Spirit as the breath that sustains the flame. When we tend this spiritual fire and work at keeping it burning strong, we become a bright beacon of light to the world. The more beacons of light there are, the less likely others will become lost in darkness.
