By Mthetho George Nojekwa – Light is a natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible. It is the absence of darkness, that which is more powerful than darkness.

It is a powerful religious metaphor when Jesus says that “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). You are that which stimulates sight and makes things visible.

In the Bible, light represents the presence of God. Jesus says: “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).

In Matthew, we are given a mission to be this light: To bring Christ into a dark world — a world full of corruption, a world full of hatred, a world full of bitterness and resentment.

How can we be this light?

Firstly, know that you are the light. We must allow Christ to manifest himself in us in order to bring forth this light.

Darkness is the absence of light. It cannot be measured in quantity — but light can.

Light is a more powerful natural agent than darkness. It brings what was invisible to light. We see through light but not through darkness.

God calls each one of us to look at things in the light of Christ; God calls us to be light in the world. We are being called to be agents of change everywhere we go.

Secondly, do not hide your light.

“All who are skilful among you shall come and make all that the Lord has commanded” (Exodus 35:10).

God has given us different skills and different gifts which we are meant to use to advance his kingdom.

People around us are to encounter God through our actions and through our utterances.

The gifts which have been given to us are not there to bring us glory but they are there for God to be glorified. Therefore, we should always pray for places that will benefit from our gifts and talents, and not places that will benefit us.

It is not about us, it’s all about God.

And lastly, let your light shine. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1).

The Lord is the source of our light, the provider of our light. We cannot do anything without him.

After telling us that we are the light, Jesus gives us an instruction: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

The Gospel of Christ that people believe in their hearts is not what is proclaimed on the lectern but what is demonstrated by our lives. Therefore, our actions should always preach a loud and meaningful Gospel of Christ.

Christ calls us to be the light of world, to be his ambassadors.

St Francis of Assisi prayed: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.”

This should be our daily prayer as people who are called to be the light of the world.

As people of light we are called to look at the world with new eyes, the new eyes of Christ.

“Calvary is the highest point of the world where we see everything with new eyes,” Cardinal Robert Sarah writes in his book God or Nothing. Therefore, let us approach this challenge of being the light of the world with strength and endurance that comes from Calvary.

Let Calvary be our point of reference when we run out of power to be the light.

You are the light of the world, don’t put the light out!

Mthetho George Nojekwa is a seminarian for the diocese of Queenstown at St Francis Seminary in Cape Town.