Thought for the Day - Wednesday 14 October

Thought for the Day – Wednesday 14th October ‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’ (Matthew 5: 14-16) Our youngest grandchild has a real fascination for lights he loves to see them lit and shining their patterns around the ceilings and the walls and will constantly ask for them to be switched on and off and on again and each time they go on he is just as excited at seeing them lit as if it is the first time he has ever seen them on – indeed it has become something of a game! I am also surprised our bedside lights at home in Largs which are touch lamps have not ceased to work by now because now he is the right height to reach them they are constantly on and off and on and off all day! There is something reassuring about light though isn’t there, perhaps that is why so many children like to have a night-light on at bedtime. Even for we older people though as the days begin to darken it is so nice to come into a room and switch on a light and feel completely enveloped in that light – it somehow seems to brighten your whole mood. No wonder then that almost every religion shares the symbol of light and indeed many non-faith organisations too. Certainly within our Christian faith it is an enduring image where we consider Jesus to be the ‘Light of the World’. In our text today though it is almost as if Jesus is turning that image on its head – instead of him alone being the ‘Light of the World’ he is telling us that we are to be the ‘Light of the World’ – so as well as receiving the light of Christ into our lives we are to illumine other lives by being and bringing light to them! I suppose it reminds us that faith, like most things in life, involves a bit of give and take – we have the privilege as well as the responsibility, we have the reward as well as the service. However, if we think we can have one without the other then we may just need to think again for we may have stepped back into the darkness with that thought because it is not all down to us alone because ultimately the light of Christ must shine in and through us in the first place to then allow that light to shine out to others. So even as the season darkens and the light outside begins to diminish don’t let the light within you diminish in any way – keep strong in faith - and certainly don’t stop that light shining out to others for I am sure each time they see it they will be delighted to see it and it may feel as exciting to them as the first time they saw it! Prayer Loving God, As you shone in the life of Jesus, so shine in us and through us, that we may become beacons of light, truth and compassion, enlightening all creation with deeds of justice and mercy. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.