Mission Blog: Let Your Light Shine
Light is one of the most central themes throughout the Bible. It starts with God hovering over the shapeless earth when He speaks light into existence. We can turn to the Book of Revelation where we are told our ‘new heaven and earth will be illuminated with God’s glory that no sun or moon will be needed to shine its light.’
What is God’s light?
When we were baptised we received God’s light through the Holy Spirit. It is the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit that enable us to receive hope over despair, peace over chaos, and joy over sorrow. God’s peace is also the gratitude we feel for Jesus’ sacrifice and this nurtures positivity within us. Because God is light and His light lives within us, we can be like a lighthouse shining brightly into a broken and hurting world.
What Does it Mean to Let Your Light Shine?
In moments of despair and darkness, it is easy to feel hopeless and lost. It is in these moments, God is asking us to use our gifts, our talents, our words, and our hearts to illuminate hope to the hopeless, and faith to the faithless.
In essence, if we are a good example for others, radiating love and kindness, we unconsciously ‘let our light shine’. God tells us in Matthew 5:16, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
‘Let Your Light Shine’ implies that we have a choice. We can shine the light of Christ or not. We can have the luminous Holy Spirit living inside of us, but fail to utilise the power of Christ to use it. We can conceal God’s light, keeping the glow hidden from ourselves as well as others. Instead, we need to release God’s splendour and bring it to our broken and hurting world.
How can we be the light in times of darkness?
- By offering hope when there is none.
- By offering kindness despite being surrounded by hate.
- By offering compassion in a world that cares little for others.
- By offer patience when we are met with impatience.
- By offering to pick up another, giving them a hand, so they can regain their light and glow.
As people of faith we must become beacons of light for others, and as we shine our light, let us ask God to continually show us how best to shine brightly, so we can be signals of His life-changing hope!
“We should be shining lamps, giving light to all around us.”
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Lee-Elle’s Insights from the ‘Make it 16’ Forum
Lee-Elle Cooper is a passionate Year 12 student who advocates for youth engagement and political participation. She has recently returned from the Make It 16 Forum in Canberra.
With Laurissa Knowles From Valley Depths to Mountain Peaks (1993)
Laurissa Knowles (1993) has had an incredible career journey so far, from Santa Maria College Teacher to Celebrant and Councillor.
- Faith, Featured
Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.
