"Let Your Light Shine"

One overarching theme of the Sunday, November 11 Mass was that we should strive to not only be more receptive to the needs of others, but to also act on them in a positive, meaningful way.

In this vein, my choir sang Glen Campbell's "Less of Me" as our second Recessional hymn.

Here is a selection of lyrics from that song:

Let me be when I am weary
Just a little bit more cheery
Let me serve a little better
Those that I am striving for

Let me be a little meeker
With the brother who is weaker
Let me be more of my neighbour
And a little less of me


This song echoes the sentiment that it is beneficial to try to be less self-centred and more others-centred. It is easy to get caught up in our own problems, challenges, hopes, and desires and to lose sight of the feelings and needs of those around us. It is also easy to fall prey to the temptation to ignore or put off helping when others are in need, because we are distracted, stressed, ill, or fatigued. However, as Campbell reminds us, we can try to be "more cheery", to find inner strength and then cultivate joy as we help others.

Who are some people that might need your help? In what ways might you be able to assist them?

One important line in the song above is "Let me be a little meeker...", which alludes to the line in the Beatitudes, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth."

When we help others, we are called to be meek and humble about it. We are not called to make a big deal out of our good deeds and expect praise or reward. Of course, everyone likes receiving positive reinforcement. It makes us feel good and can motivate us to continue doing what we are doing. However, it is beneficial for us to work at being less concerned with praise and rewards for good deeds, and more focused on the fact that we should do good for two reasons:

1. Because it is the right, just, loving thing to do
2. Because it encourages others to give praise to the one who truly deserves it - God!

On the 11th, we sang two songs whose refrains clearly reflected this concept: "Beatitudes" and "We Are the Light of the World".

Here is an excerpt from each:

Beatitudes

Let your light shine
For all the world to see
The brightness of the life within
The peace that sets you free
Let your light shine
To fill your nights and days
And all will see the deeds you do
And offer God their praise


We Are the Light of the World

We are the light of the world
Let your light shine before all
That they may see the deeds that you do
And give glory to God


Indeed, we can contribute positively to the world by using our God-given gifts and talents to the fullest. When we do so, in a meaningful, but also humble way, we reflect well on our Catholic faith as a whole. Just like a well-behaved child inspires admiration for his or her parents, so can our genuine acts of charity and love inspire admiration for our Father. We never know when an act of kindness, as a Catholic follower of Christ, can move someone to praise God and try to emulate that behaviour. Similarly, when I experience an act of love or generosity, I try to always take time to offer God my praise and thanks.

Each week at Mass, I take time to pray and ask God to help me be the best person I can be, for the service of those around me, and for the glorification of God, not myself. As the song lyrics encourage, I want to be less focused on myself, more focused on others, and, especially, more focused on God.

To close, let me leave you with a question to consider.

What are your God-given talents, and how can you use them to best serve others and inspire praise for God?

I would love to hear your ideas in the Comments section! You never know how your words and actions can inspire others!

God bless you, today and always!

Karen