Fr. Mike's Gospel Reflection for - Sunday, February 8, 2026

You are the light of the world…your light must shine before others.

In 1988, President George H. W. Bush described his vision for an engaged and generous society: “For we are a nation of communities…all of them varied, voluntary and unique…a brilliant diversity spread like stars, like a thousand points of light in a broad and peaceful sky.”  He hoped that a spirit of volunteerism would replace the expensive and often ineffective efforts of Federal, State and local governments.  I often think of his words whenever I hear this week’s Gospel about being the light of the world; about having to put my light upon a lampstand so that it will shine to all who come near; about having to let others see my good deeds so that they will glorify the heavenly Father.

The word “light” is found over 200 times in the Bible. From its first appearance in Genesis when God says, “Let there be light” through the closing verses of Revelation where we read, “for the Lord God will be their light, and they shall reign for ever and ever.”  Throughout the Bible, light is always good.  As in today’s reading from Isaiah and in the Responsorial Psalm, light stands in stark contrast to darkness that is generally evil, foreboding, or gloomy.  In John’s Gospel, Jesus calls himself the “light of the world.”  In a prior chapter of his Gospel, Matthew uses Isaiah’s words, “the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.”   

Today, in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that they (and, by extension, we) are the “light of the world.”  How can both Jesus and we be lights to the world?  An analogy is that both the sun and the moon are lights to the world.  The difference is that the sun is the source of light, the moon merely reflects the sun’s light.  So it is with Jesus, who is light itself – the source of all light.  Jesus emphasizes that being His follower is an active, intentional commitment: “your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” As His followers, He asks us to reflect His light to all whom we encounter. Wherever we go, people will be attracted to our light.  We must let it shine!

Fr. Mike