In his autobiography, Pope Francis writes about a university student who asked him, “What should I say to my classmates who are atheists or agnostics to bring them to Christ?” In reply, Pope Francis said, “Say nothing. Just do. And when they see what you do, they will ask you why you do it. Then you can speak.” (This is good advice for those who are concerned that children or other family members have “fallen away” from the faith.)
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples, “You are the light of the world.” He doesn’t say that we should try to be the light of the world; as His disciples, we are the light! As the sun is to the physical world, we are to humanity. Through our good works—of mercy, compassion, and love—we bring light to our dark and broken world. We brighten the lives of those around us. Even small acts on our part can brighten someone’s day. So, what small act will you perform to bring light to someone?
Light draws light! People will come to it. Through our good works, others will be drawn to Christ and give glory to God. Bringing Christ’s light to our community is the mission of our Family of Parishes, which we accomplish through our many outreach ministries. That is the best way to bring others to Christ.
As I write this, the chaos and evil taking place in Minneapolis are at the top of the news. The people from that community who make sacrifices and go to great lengths to support their neighbors bring light to a very dark place. We should see the good that they are doing and give glory to God!
