Lead To The Light

The Word was the real light that gives light to everyone; He was coming into the world. John 1:9

The Word of God is the real light. Our mission is to preach and allow the Light of the Gospel to shine through us so that people can see clearly the path to take in following Christ. (Isaiah 49:6)

But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this reason: to appoint you as my servant and as witness of this vision in which you have seen me, and of others in which I shall appear to you. I shall rescue you from the people and the nations to whom I send you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light, from the dominion of Satan to God, and receive, through faith in me, forgiveness of their sins and a share in the inheritance of the sanctified. (Acts 26:16-18)

Jesus’ words to Paul, “I am sending you to open their eyes” have great significance in today’s world which stands in need of a fresh proclamation of the Word of God. Spiritual blindness is one of the greatest effects of the sin that marks the human race. (Luke 24:16)

If our Gospel seems to be veiled at all, it is so to those who are on the way to destruction, the unbelievers whose minds have been blinded by the god of this world, so that they cannot see shining the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) 

Holy men and women of all ages have called out to Jesus, the Light of the world, to give light to their eyes. It is by the power of His Word that God scattered the darkness which clouded their intellect and enabled them to perceive the clear light of His Gospel. (Psalms 119:105; 130)

Saint Francis of Assisi prayed before the Crucifix of San Damiano, “Most High, Glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my mind, give me right faith, a firm hope and perfect charity, so that I may always and in all things act according to Your Holy Will. Amen.”

Pope John XXIII prayed during the start of his priestly life, ‘O Lord, listen to this blind man who calls out to You as You pass by, and implores You to help him, You Who are indeed the Light of my eyes! Give me light that I may see: “Lord, that I may see!”’ 

Preaching the Word, holding on to it and proferring to the world the Word of life are some of the ways in which we carry out our mission to be a light for the people around us. (Philippians 2:14-16)