Gazing at a struggling candle, I asked myself, “How many people seem fine on the outside but are actually on the edge of burnout?” My mind flooded with the names of those whom I knew to be caring for aging relatives or young children – or both. I remembered those who were living with chronic illness, depression, anxiety or grief. I thought about students grappling with challenging material, heavy homework and difficult exams. I thought about those who felt overwhelmed by their lists of tasks or piles of unpaid bills.
In Matthew’s gospel, just before the charge to “let your light shine before others (5:16), Jesus proclaims, “You are the light of the world” (5:14). In both verses, the “you” is plural. We are not alone. God gives us communities of support where we can shine together, drawing strength from one another. As the church, we are called to pray for one another, for the world and for all who are in need.
This message is excerpted from “The light bearers” by Julie A. Kanarr in the January/February 2020 Gather magazine.
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