Shine So Christ May Be Seen In You

𝐉𝐀𝐍. 𝟐𝟗, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐃 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝐈𝐍 𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈: 𝟐 𝐒𝐚𝐦 𝟕:𝟏𝟖-𝟏𝟗, 𝟐𝟒-𝟐𝟗

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐦: 𝐏𝐬𝐚 𝟏𝟑𝟐:𝟏-𝟓, 𝟏𝟏-𝟏𝟒 “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝, 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫.”

𝐆𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐋: 𝐌𝐤 𝟒:𝟐𝟏-𝟐𝟓

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞: “𝐀𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫.” (𝐯.𝟐𝟑) 

         This is probably one of the most significant passages in the New Testament for the simple reason that this has something to do with our calling as a Christian disciple and what we are to be in relation to the world around us.

         Simply said this Gospel tells us to show to the world who and what we are. And again, we need to go back to the foundation of our nature that we are all created in the image and likeness of God (𝐆𝐞𝐧 𝟏:𝟐𝟔) and this is the nature that the world must see in us.

         I still remember the time when I was still a member of the Board of Trustees of the  Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas, we launched the opening of a year-long program known as: “Called to be Holy! Sent forth as Heroes!” It had for its theme: Choose to be Brave and the Sangguniang Laiko ng Pilipinas (Council of the Laity of the Philippines) was thrust into the thick of this program which was designed to dovetail the calling of Pope Francis to all baptized Catholics to go out and proclaim the Gospel with joy to others especially the so-called lapsed Catholics.

         The launching of the program coincided with the celebration of the Year of the Laity on that same year and it highlighted the role of the Catholic laity not only in the propagation of the Catholic faith but more so in equipping the Filipino lay faithful the tools to meet the challenges of evangelization in the post-modern world

         The Gospel today that we read in 𝐌𝐤 𝟒:𝟐𝟏-𝟐𝟓 should serve as an inspiration for the lay faithful to follow in the footsteps of Saints Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod who stood by their Catholic faith even with death staring them in the eye. Saint Pedro Calungsod who was canonized on April 2, 1672 died from spears hurled at him by a Guamanian native who turned away from the Catholic faith. Historical accounts showed that he could have easily ran and escape death, but he instead stood his ground and died in defense of his faith.

         Jesus in today’s Gospel speak of the necessity for Christians to be proud of their faith. Difficult it may be, Jesus is calling on all of us not to be ashamed to show who we are and the God whom we serve. In fact, if only every Christian and Catholics for that matter would be able to grasp the enormity of the faith that we have received, everyone will not look at the command for us to love God and our neighbor as well as a duty but an awesome privilege.

         This brings me back to that time on June 12, 1998, when the Philippines celebrated its Centennial and an Executive Order was issued enjoining the entire nation to display the Philippine flag in their homes, business establishments, vehicles, buildings, etc.

         Again, after the 9-11 tragedy, we see American homes displaying the American flag in their porches, in their lawns and, wherever they can display it to express their solidarity as a nation. In fact, even today many American homes in the US proudly display their flags on their porches and I also could see some Filipino homes today who have left the Philippine flag fluttering in front of their homes even after the country’s Independence Day is over.

         In both instances, Filipinos and Americans took pride in their identities with the use of their respective national banners because those colors project our image of who we are. Our national banners speak of who we are as a nation and as a people and in fact we are taught in school to take pride in our flag because it carries with it the very history of our nation.

         This is what today’s Gospel is all about as it simply means that our lives must take the form of a lamp that has been lighted up by the nature of Jesus contained in the Scriptures and empowered by the Holy Spirit such that we are to consider ourselves as a lampstand that will illumine not only our surroundings but more importantly those around us.

A Christian regardless of the state in life that he is in must never be ashamed to display his color. Unknown to man, there are at least three personages to whom we try to hide certain things including the practice of our faith foremost of which is our own self when we are on denial and keep our faith hidden even from our own selves.

         We also tend to keep our faith out of sight of our fellow men, but what we will soon realize is that a man who keeps secrets is an unhappy person. The happy man is one who has nothing to hide. Worst, we even keep our faith hidden from the eyes of our very own God.

         Funny but I was once like that especially when I was still new in the renewal as I couldn’t muster the courage to speak and confess my newfound faith. There was fear that I will be ridiculed by my peers in the world I was living in before I was brought to the Christian renewal. The continuing formation program of the community and the diligence of the shepherds assigned to me greatly helped as they guided me in my transformational struggle in my journey from darkness and into the great light. 

         The Word of God who is Jesus personified must be operative in our lives which means that we who have seen the light must now become the lamps that should proclaim the message of the Kingdom of God “𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭” (𝐋𝐤 𝟖:𝟏𝟔) and again we are reminded of our great commission (𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭 𝟐𝟖:𝟏𝟖) and that we are not to “𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧” (𝐄𝐩𝐡 𝟒:𝟑𝟎).        

          To be sealed in the Holy Spirit means that we who have received the Word of God are mandated to act on it, to proclaim it because this is our primary responsibility as a Christian and we are not to stifle its proclamation lest we grieve the Holy Spirit who can take away even the little that we have which could even mean this life that we now live.

         What Jesus was emphasizing in this Gospel was that if we consider our lives as a lamp that has been lighted up by the Word of God then we must understand that we are not to hide it and keep the light to ourselves, but we must show to the world the light that is in us. Our being Christians must become the banner that we must be proud of. Our transformed lives must be like a banner that flutters proudly so that everyone can see not just the Christian in us but the Jesus in us who is the True Light.

         Today we are being reminded that the Word of God does not only light up our lives, but it will help us grow as Christians. And it is our duty to shine so that others may also see the light. As we are commanded by Christ in 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭 𝟐𝟖:𝟏𝟖, we need to become credible witnesses and bring this light that we have received to others as what Saints Lorenzo Ruic and Pedro Calungsod did and not keep it to ourselves.

         And those who will read this Gospel should be careful how they listen (𝐯.𝟐𝟑) because there are many deceptive messages in the world today that there is a danger that these deceptions are what we may hear and pass on to others.

         This should serve as a motivation for us to keep on learning, to keep on seeking the truth because what Jesus is saying in this passage is that if we stop learning, if we don’t proclaim the Word of God, if we stop searching for the Kingdom of Heaven and, if we keep the light hidden from others even the little knowledge that we have will be taken away from us.

         In closing, we should all ask ourselves are we proud of our Christian heritage? Are we proud of our faith that we have in Jesus that it impels us to proclaim the Word to others? Have our lives been transformed that we have become the light on a lampstand that others can come in and see the light? Like Saints Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod who chose to be brave despite tremendous odds, do we also take pride in displaying the Christian banner that reflects the presence of Christ in our lives? (𝘌𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺 - 𝘑𝘢𝘯. 29, 2026)