You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16 CEB)
One of my new rhythms as a chaplain in a Catholic hospital is regularly offering overhead prayers and reflections. Each morning at precisely 7:55 AM, I activate the overhead paging system which has speakers throughout the hospital and offer a one-minute prayer or reflection that attempts to point those listening towards God.
I enjoy this small opportunity each day to invite all the caregivers in the hospital to pause for a moment and think about their faith. The challenge is that not everyone who works in a Catholic hospital is a person of faith, many simply understand these moments are part of the culture of working in a Catholic hospital. Those who aren’t people of faith either tolerate the practice or tune out for a minute each day. With this in mind, I try to be very intentional and make the most of the opportunity, attempting to be inviting without being “preachy.”
Even though not all of us have the responsibility to come up with some inspirational thought each day to share with our coworkers, each day we are all provided with opportunities to “shine the light.” Those brief moments with our families as we get ready for work and school. Those exchanges with the barista in the drive through of our favorite coffee shop. The chit-chat with the person checking us out at the store. The interactions from our car with those not driving how we think they should. Even, the ideas and pictures we share on Facebook. Every contact with another person is an opportunity to “shine the light.”
Jesus’ teaching here in the gospel of Matthew is one that is so simple and yet can be very challenging to live out. The gospel text explains the goal of shining our light is that others “can see the good things [we] do and praise [our] Father who is in heaven.” So, we shine the light not to bring glory to ourselves, but to reflect the light of Christ, and bring praise to God the Father.
For those who follow Christ, the light of Christ is gifted to us, this light of Christ resides in us. Our calling is to find ways to reflect that light to the world around us. Jesus reminds us, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). The Quakers use the phrase “inward light” to describe this presence of Christ in our hearts and lives.
I invite you to pray this prayer with me.
Lord, remind us that each interaction with another person is an opportunity to shine your light.
May we be so filled with your presence, Your inward light, that Your light shines through us to the world.
May the light we shine to the world be redemptive, grace filled, loving, kind and represent You well.
We worship and give praise to the one true light of the world, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
I invite you to reflect on the Light of Christ through this day. Some of you may enjoy DC Talk’s song “In the Light” as one way to capture these ideas in song (this was the song in my head I as wrote this devotional):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQoK_ryT3uc
Or perhaps this beautiful little Christmas themed choral song “The Light of Christ” by Don Moen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kQdfQUw9Do
Pastor Shawn