March 2008 : Reflection on Scripture
‘… In the same way your light must shine in people’s sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your father in heaven.’ (Matt 5.16)
People will see ‘your’ good works but they will not give you the glory.
They will give the glory to God. How come?
Because they will somehow recognize that
‘your good works’ are not really your’s, but God’s.
They will recognize that God alone is good
and that you could not accomplish your good works
except that you have given yourself to be God’s instrument.
You are shining, but the light is not your own.
It is Christ’s light radiating out from you,
as when the sun’s light radiates from the moon.
The moon is only bright and beautiful when it faces the sun.
Without the sun it is dark and lifeless dust.
In the same way, if we turn our lives to the Lord,
what is dark and lifeless in us can be sanctified
so that it radiates God’s goodness.
This is evangelization and it is wonderful.
‘If your whole body is filled with light, it will be light entirely,
as when the lamp shines on you with its rays.’ (Lk 11.36)