In Saint John’s Gospel Jesus proclaims himself to be the light of the world. In our own day we are called to bear his light. This is not always easy. We live in an uncertain time. The economic crisis is a manifestation of this uncertainty. Many families worry about how their basic needs will be met.
It has always been the vocation of the Christian to witness to hope. Even in the darkest of times Christ’s light shines in the world. In our current society of disbelief it is difficult, sometimes, to see how we can witness to the Gospel. To even believe in God is seen as being strange. To practice your faith is positively crazy!
Christ is calling us to be radical. We have to share with the world a counter cultural message. We have to tell our world that this is not all there is. We have a purpose which is beyond this world, a goal which is beyond satiating our present desires.
God needs us to be saints. By holiness of life we testify to the truth of the Gospel message. In our example of holiness we bear the light of Christ to a disbelieving world.
Blessed John Paul II emphasised the universal call to holiness. The Church needs Saints now more than ever before. To bear Christ’s light we have to be His light. JPII said that “With the passage of ime, holiness does not lose its force of attraction; more than that, it shines with greater luminosity,” The light of Christ shines through the saints and brings people to God. By being holy we reflect the light of Christ into the darkness of our world.
Kieran Fletcher
5th Year Seminarian
Diocese of Hallam
This is great Kieran! enjoyed reading it – keep posting!