BECOMING THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD AMIDST MANY OBSTACLES - 02/05/23 (Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Matthew 5:14–16

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” 

For the full readings, click here: 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020523.cfm

Blessed Sunday! We know that Jesus Christ is the light of the world. And yet, He also tells us that we should be the light in this world as well. This means that we should be His instrument as we continuously live out the Christian faith with the hope of bringing more people to Christ. Through this, more people will be enlightened by the truth of Christ, and more will be saved from the darkness of sins. To be a light to this world means that our good deeds should be reflected, but there are some obstacles in fulfilling what our Lord asks of us. One is that we may feel embarrassed if others see our faith. Sometimes, we don't like that other people are noticing us when we do the sign of the cross, pray, and remain firm in sharing the Catholic faith. Because of this, some of us may choose to avoid doing these actions when we are surrounded by people. However, God is always reminding us that just as He does not deny us of His love, we should not deny Him when we are in front of other people, even if we receive negative words from them or even if we don't get the praises from them. Our life is not about glorifying ourselves with achievements, but it's about glorifying God and being a good example for others with the hope that they may be able to glorify God as well. 

Another obstacle is that we may feel we do not have the diligence or perseverance to do the will of God. Perhaps, we may think that we have the desire to be holy, but when we see our imperfections, some choose to not focus on God's will. One person may desire to live a pure and chaste life in obedience to Christ, the Catholic Church and in imitation of the saints, but when he encounters and falls to temptations of lust and other sins, he may just give up. But, Jesus is telling us that the light should not be hidden. We should not neglect the desires in our heart to do God's will, even amidst our imperfections, because we have an assurance that God will give us the strength to do His will. True humility will enable us to trust in God even more and to stand up when we see ourselves falling. If we experience some temptations, let's not be afraid, but let's turn to Jesus immediately begging for His help. And, we should have the confidence that He has given us the grace to overcome the temptations in our lives. These obstacles in our spiritual life may be heavy like crosses, but our Lord is inspiring us to carry these crosses out of love for Him. The light of Christ will banish the darkness in our hearts, and after being enlightened by Him, we can be instruments for the salvation of souls. 

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic

Examination of Conscience and Guide to Sacrament of Confession:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/

Ultimate Catholic Parents Guide:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ls6IcexZAls

Summary and Defense of Catholic Teachings:

https://www.catholic.com/tract/pillar-of-fire-pillar-of-truth