The light of God at Baptism
Matthew 5:16 — Similarly, let your light shine before others so they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
As I stood at the altar, the priest held the holy candle alight, its flame flickering and casting shadows on the walls of the church. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to be fully present, feeling the weight of the ceremony and the significance of what was about to happen.
The priest spoke the words of the baptismal rite, his voice echoing through the sacred space. “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” He touched the candle’s flame to my head as he spoke, and I felt a jolt of energy pass through my body: it felt like someone had turned on a switch to ignite a light within me.
This light, I believe, is the light of God given to us at baptism — it dispels darkness and brings hope to those in need — and we are responsible for carrying it with us and letting it shine brightly in the world.
In carrying this light, we must do as Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:14–16,
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, giving light to everyone. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
So as baptized Christians, we are called to live the life of Christ and to be witnesses to the love and grace of God. To do this, we must give compassion, kindness, and service to others — loving our neighbors as ourselves and seeking to bring hope to those around us.
Therefore, when we carry the light of God with us and let it shine through our words and actions, we have the opportunity to touch the lives of those who are unbaptized and share the love of Christ with them, and be beacons of hope in the world when there’s darkness and despair.
So let’s embrace the light of God given to us, letting it guide us as we seek to live with purpose and meaning. Let’s be shining examples of the love of Christ and let our light touch the hearts of those around us.
