by LIGHT
The people of Israel thought they were a light in the world, because of their grand solemn ceremonies in the Temple, but they failed to understand that God is not just interested in external acts of piety, but also with works of mercy and love. That was the light he wanted to see shining on his chosen people.
A religious person who fuels trouble in the family, congregation or community; who knocks heads together, causing anxiety among people is a true version of one who lives in darkness. Don’t heighten peoples problems by your half-educated principles and inflicting pain on innocent people. Dont do all these and afterwards take on long prayer programmes, with hours of fasting, to please God?. You are hiding your light in a bushel.
This is what the Prophet Isaiah commands? Share your bread with the hungry, bring the homeless poor into your house, cloth the naked, be your own brother’s keeper? Stop pointing accusing fingers at others and speaking wickedness, increasing the yoke of pain and suffering for others (read Isaiah 58:7-10). Christianity is not just a religion that marks people present when they go to church or attend ceremonies. It’s a religion that brings Light to a world full of darkness through positive actions practiced by its adherents..
Worship is not just showing up in church on sunday with clean cloths, it is actually going there to encounter God spiritually and following up with concrete acts of charity. If your worship is not followed up by kind acts, then you are like a clashing cymbal. A churchgoer (and that’s okay), who doubles as a troubleshooter; cares less about the needs of the less privileged, quarrels with friends and neighbours at will is more or less hiding his light under a bushel.
Do not confuse people with half educated principles, oratoric skills, privileged position or the fact that you live an urbane life; leveraging on all these to take advantage of others. St. Paul simply calls this, the “Wisdom of men” (read 1 Cor. 2:1-5). Instead you are the salt of the earth… the light of the world, and a city set on a hill cannot be hidden (Matt 5:13-16).
