Mother Teresa, the humble saint of Calcutta, had a series of interior locutions or communications with the Lord in 1946, which led to her founding of the Missionaries of Charity. She shared in her biography that she heard Jesus calling her, “Come, come, carry Me into the holes of the poor. Come, be My light.” I remembered this story because the Gospel reading speaks of Jesus telling his disciples that they are “the light of the world.”

Mother Teresa has truly been a light to the world by her works and example. She remains such an inspiration to many, and a great witness to the Gospel. Her love for God was manifested in her care and love for the poorest of the poor.

I was once told by a priest that, during Easter Vigil, the greatest image of Jesus is not the image of the risen Christ, but the lighted paschal candle which proclaims that Christ is the light who banished the darkness of sin. In the Sacrament of Baptism, there is a beautiful rite of lighting the baptismal candle from the paschal candle. It symbolizes how the baptized share in the light of Christ. Whenever I give seminars on baptism, I always encourage the parents and godparents to help keep the light of faith in the child burning, as symbolized by the lighted candle.

The Gospel reminds us that, by virtue of baptism, we have become sharers in Christ’s light–we become the light of the world. May we, like Mother Teresa, keep our lights burning brightly by our constant faith and witnessing to Christ.

By: Sem. Tristan Ralf Q. Pacheco

Today’s Gospel

Mt 5:13-16

Jesus said to his disciples:
“You are the salt of the earth.
But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned?
It is no longer good for anything
but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world.
A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket;
it is set on a lampstand,
where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your heavenly Father.”