Be the Light. It is the last thing I say to our children as they pile out of my huge van in the school carpool line each weekday morning. I do not exactly remember when I started saying, “Be the Light.” It seems like I have been saying it for as long as I can remember now. Though, what does this really mean? Light? It is in the bible various times to be sure.
Family Motto
A couple of years ago we were interviewed for a local Catholic magazine. It was interesting being on the receiving end of a magazine article. For several years I worked for Radiant Magazine as a writer. Most of the articles I wrote involved me interviewing people and writing about their stories or experiences, or incredible life events. You can imagine how fascinating it was to be on the other side when this local publication reached out to me. The writer told our story, but really emphasized this notion of our family’s motto.
I had every intention of doing deep theological research about the various scripture verses on light and what they mean. Then, I had what I can only explain as a Holy Spirit moment. That was not the direction I was to take with this reflection. So, last night I spent several minutes with each of our eight children separately and asked them what exactly do I mean each time I tell them to “Be the Light” as they go out into the world.
Question and Answers
Our two-year-old had perhaps the most direct and philosophical answer when she simply replied, “From God.”
Next our six-year-old daughter said, “Be nice and good.” Her eight-year-old brother had the exact same answer on the other side of the house and was not within earshot of my previous conversation.
Our ten-year-old son understood it to mean, “Show others the love of God; and being kind to others. Act like Jesus to others.” Older brother aged thirteen said, “Be bright. And be nice.”
Finally, I went and sought out each of our teenage daughters and our adult daughter. Molly, who is fifteen said, “Be the Light means show everyone the Light of Jesus. Treat people how Jesus would treat you.” Our almost seventeen-year-old daughter held that it means, “Be happy and spread God’s love to others.”
Lastly, our almost twenty-year-old daughter smiled and said, “It reminds me of the lyrics to one of my favorite songs that is actually called Be A Light. It goes like this, “In a world full of hate, be a light. When you do somebody wrong, make it right. Don’t hide in the dark, you were born to shine. In a world full of hate, be a light.”
Jesus Came as Light
So, there it is, out of the mouths of babes on Being the Light. In today’s gospel from John, Jesus tells us He came into the world as light so that everyone who believes in Him might not remain in darkness. Light is the opposite of darkness. It represents all that is good, true, and beautiful.
In a world full of darkness, be the light.
Lovely reflection, Joanne, thank you for sharing all the insights from your children! My boys and I were discussing this same idea today in the car, interestingly! May we all be light to others in this world. God bless.