This morning, I heard a reference to a Bible passage I was not familiar with, or I should say, I no longer remembered. Later on, I saw that it´s part of the Sermon on the Mount, a very popular reading from the Gospel. So I´m guessing I probably heard it many times during Mass, although perhaps this particular passage tends to go unnoticed right after the Beatitudes.
Here´s what it says:
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, so 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, 15-16).
This passage is a reminder that each of us have something to contribute to this life, and that we shouldn´t hide that contribution of ours because it may serve as help and guidance to other people..
(Apologies for the photo being a bit blurry, but I love this happy little radiant sun drawing I saw the other day.)
El problema es que muchas veces nos cuesta reconocer nuestro propio valor, y no nos parece que lo que hagamos o dejemos de hacer vaya a marcar ninguna diferencia… Si este es tu caso, te invito a que te sientes con papel y lápiz y hagas una lista de acciones tuyas que hayan tenido un impacto positivo en otras personas, por pequeño que fuera. En todos esos momentos, tu luz ha brillado para ellos.
Ojo, que no estoy hablando de vanagloriarnos ni de presumir en exceso, forzando el mostrar a los demás lo buenos que somos y lo bien que lo hacemos… La luz de una lámpara no se impone ni avasalla, sino que simplemente fluye, iluminando tranquilamente a su alrededor.
Similarly, each of us can let our contribution get out into the world, according to our talents and our own style, and humbly make it available to whoever can benefit from it. Without making ourselves bigger or smaller. Without inflating or diminishing ourselves. Without blocking our light. Being brave enough to shine.
Part of my contribution, for example, is this blog. What´s yours?