Let Us Shine

When was the best day of your life? Do you like to go back and relive the beauty of that day in your memories? When I remember the best day of my life, I imagine joy radiating from the face of God onto me, my family, and my friends. I cherish the photographs from that day and look at them to remind myself of God’s faithfulness and love.

It was June 19, we were celebrating Father’s Day, and I became a child of God. I actually don’t remember a single thing from that day because I was only six weeks old. My parents brought me to Mass that Sunday morning, holy water was poured over my head, and the priest proclaimed, “Rose Marie, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” I was cleansed from Original Sin. My soul was given an indelible mark as a beloved daughter of the Father. I was anointed with Holy Chrism and I received the light of Christ.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “Your light must shine before others.” We must shine because in our Baptism we were made to shine. Some days we may shine more brightly, but regardless of how we feel, we must shine. It doesn’t have to be a bonfire or extravagant fireworks, just the simple flame burning with love by the tabernacle. Jesus is with us in the Eucharist, and His Eucharistic Presence will protect our light from being extinguished.

Saint Anthony of Padua, whose feast we celebrate today, also gives some wonderful advice about how to shine. He was a Franciscan priest from Portugal who preached in France and Italy during the thirteenth century. In his sermon on how actions speak louder than words, he described how the Holy Spirit speaks in different languages through our virtues. “These languages are different ways of witnessing to Christ, such as humility, poverty, patience, and obedience.” It is the Holy Spirit who so creatively helps us to communicate the light of Christ to others.

Let us pray:

Holy Spirit, speak Your language of humility through me today.

Speak Your language of poverty through me today.

Speak Your language of patience through me today.

Speak Your language of obedience through me today.

Jesus, help me to shine and witness to You today through my virtues.

Father, please help the light of Christ from my baptism bring glory to You today.

We must shine because in our Baptism we were made to shine.Click to tweet

Pray with me today, sister.

Rose Coleman is a contemplative in action who delights in all things beautiful. Her adventurous heart has traveled many places—from circumnavigating the globe on a ship during college to some years in the convent as a religious sister. Exuberant from her childhood, she is an elementary school teacher who learns so much from her students. You can find out more about her here.