When my children were in primary school they often sung the song This Little Light of.Mine in school and mass. I thought it was a nice hymn but never paid much attention to the meaning behind it until my own faith renewal. The song is based on one of Jesus’ seven figurative expressions of Himself found in John’s Gospel — the Light of the World. A review of the scriptures provides several references to this image. There are two dimensions to the expression: Jesus as the Light, and also His disciples (us) as a light.
From Zechariah’s canticle, we are given the prophesy of Jesus as the Light guiding us:
- “… because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death’s shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79).
In John’s Gospel, Jesus declares that He is the Light and that He gives us His Light:
- While I am in the world, I am the light of the world. (John 9:5).
- Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12).
In John and Matthew, Jesus tells us to remain in the Light and to stay away from darkness (evil):
- “And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.” (John 3:19-21).
- The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.(Matthew 6:22-23).
Last, Jesus tells us in Matthew and Luke to let our light shine before others and to keep our light burning, avoiding darkness (sin):
- You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father. (Matthew 5:14-16).
- Take care, then, that the light in you not become darkness. If your whole body is full of light, and no part of it is in darkness, then it will be as full of light as a lamp illuminating you with its brightness. (Luke 11:35-36).
Let your light shine!
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