So that those who enter may see the light

Esr 1,1-6; Ps 125; Lk 8,16-18
23 SEPTEMBER

The Christian is the light of Christ Jesus in the world in the same way that Christ Jesus in his mortal body was the light of the Father. As Jesus illuminated the world of the purest truth of the Father with his works and his words, so the Christian must illuminate every man with the purest light of Lord Jesus. The light comes neither from the Scriptures nor from the Sacraments for the world. The Christian draws light in the Holy Spirit and grace and strength in the sacraments, burns like the light of Christ, manifests Christ and reveals him.

So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work. Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life, so that my boast for the day of Christ may be that I did not run in vain or labour in vain. But, even if I am poured out as a libation upon the sacrificial service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with all of you. In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me (Phil 2,12-18).

But you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were “no people” but now you are God’s people; you “had not received mercy” but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as aliens and sojourners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against the soul. Maintain good conduct among the Gentiles, so that if they speak of you as evildoers, they may observe your good works and glorify God on the day of visitation. Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake, whether it be to the king as supreme or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the approval of those who do good. For it is the will of God that by doing good you may silence the ignorance of foolish people. Be free, yet without using freedom as a pretext for evil, but as slaves of God. Give honour to all, love the community, fear God, honour the king (1Pt 2,9-17).

On the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God, through much endurance, in afflictions, hardships, constraints, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labours, vigils, fasts; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, in a holy spirit, in unfeigned love, in truthful speech, in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left; through glory and dishonour, insult and praise. We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful; as unrecognized and yet acknowledged; as dying and behold we live; as chastised and yet not put to death; as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things (2Cor 6,4-10).

Christ is the eternal light of the Father. He was hidden in eternity. He was made flesh. He became visible light in history. Now he is back with his glorious body. He remained on earth with his body, which is the Church. Through this body he must manifest all the light of the Father. He manifests it in every corner of the earth, through every one of his disciples. But if the disciple returns to darkness, he does double damage. He loses himself in eternal darkness. He does not help the world to leave darkness and enter the light. If the Christian is not the light of Christ, never might the world know the splendour of light.

“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lamp stand so that those who enter may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.”

The Christian is called to be the light of charity, faith and hope; light of fortitude, justice, temperance and prudence; light of meekness and humility; light of compliance; light that always walks with its eyes turned towards eternal goods. Always light of truth.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints arrange that the Christian never returns to darkness and falsehood.