A Light that Conquers

Specific Objectives

At the end of the session, the assembly the participants are expected to:

1. Know that Jesus is the source of our light

2. Value Jesus’ action in making us His light to the world

3. Commit to being the instruments that God can use to bring his light to the world

Expanded Outline

I. Introduction

This year God has called us to be a “light to the world”! He has nourished, molded, and empowered us to be the light that can lead our family and friends to Christ. But before we became that light, we were also led to meet the light Himself, which is Jesus Christ.

When we met Him and entered into a personal relationship with Him, it changed us completely. It transformed and renewed us in a way that we became a new being. We were changed to be the man and woman that he wants us to be. We were absorbed into His light to the point that we became light as well. We start to emit His light as well. He has made us be a light that conquers darkness into the world.

II. Made to be Light

“For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Acts 13:47

It is clear from our anchor verse this year that God has made us His light. In the very part of the verse, it is written there that “I have made you a light.” God made us his light. When we say that we were made, it means that God has created us in a particular way to fulfill a particular purpose.

A. Made in a Particular Way

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14

Individually, God made us, He created us the way we are to fulfill a particular purpose in the world. We need to understand that our personality, talents, and skills are created to proclaim Christ. All that we possess is meant to be powerfully and effectively share Christ with the world. But it is not just about our talent and skills, it is also about our experiences.

B. Made with our Experiences

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

God allowed us to have our experiences, encounters, and learnings as individuals so that we can proclaim Christ. It is what we use to connect to people and allow them to relate to us as we connect and relate them to Christ.

Even our being part of the community is also God’s way of making us His light. Imagine this year we are celebrating 40 years of MFC and 10 years of LCSC. In all these years God has allowed our formation, programs, activities, and events to prepare us to be light. He also allows all of our experience in the community so that we can be His light.

Even our being Filipino is a way of preparing us to be light. This year we are celebrating five hundred years of Christianity. For the past 500 years of our unique practice of the faith, it has not only survived but has been a strong influence in the culture and character of our nation, and is still going strong. We are the third country in the world with the most numerous Catholic population. The Catholic faith and devotion of the Filipinos are recognized all over the world. Through our Filipino migrants and missionaries, we also strengthen the Church in most of the 200 countries all over the world where Filipinos are found. Even our saints are made to proclaim Christ to the Ends of the Earth (St. Pedro Calungsud and St. Lorenzo Ruiz).

C. Made to be Set Apart

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5

To emphasize even more how God has made us his light, let us look in the other version of our anchor verse. In the other version, they replace the word made as being set. To be set means to be put in a position. This means that God has put us in our position (service, work, the situation in life) so that we can proclaim Christ to the world.

In another version, they replace the word "made" as being "appointed". It means that we are chosen to be His light to the world. He has chosen us individually and as a community in spite and despite our weaknesses and failures so we can be His light.

God has made us, set us, and appointed us in these times so that we can be His Light and fulfill His purpose to the world!

III. Fulfilling a Purpose

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

We are to dispel the darkness in people’s hearts, minds, and souls by sharing Christ through our lives. When we allow people to see our good deeds and proclaim Christ then we are becoming His instrument of salvation. That is His purpose why He has made us light.

A. Instrument of Salvation

As Instrument we recognize that we are not the one who brings salvation, it is only Jesus. We are just:

1. Recipient of Salvation – the light that we emit is not ourselves but it is Christ. He is the real source of our light and we shine bright if we remain close to him.

2. Carrier of Salvation – As a lamp, we are to bring His light wherever we might be placed.

3. Sharer of Salvation – When we become powerful witnesses of Christ through our words, thoughts, and actions we are allowing people to see the good deeds that we do because of Christ and we are giving glory to God our Father. This will allow people to encounter Christ.

B. To the Ends of the Earth

As His light, we need to be sure that we can fulfill God’s purpose in our “end”. In our anchor verse, it is said that we are to bring His salvation to the ends of the earth. When we say ends it can mean three things; it can be a location, a goal, or accountability.

1. Location – Where is God sending you to be a light this year?

2. Goal – Who are the people you want to evangelize this year? What are your goals in your service this year?

3. End – What can you do to be an effective evangelizer this year?

When we realize that we are an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth, then we too have to fulfill our purpose why God has made us His light.

IV. Keeping the Light

God has made us His light and so it is our responsibility to keep it shining. We can’t pass on the responsibility to keep our light shining to our household servant, service head, or anyone at all. Yes, these people can help us keep the light shining but it falls into us to keep it shining. We can do that if we:

A. Strengthen the Light

1. Deepen your Relationship with God

2. Prioritize your Interior Life

3. Received the Sacraments

B. Sharpen Ourselves

1. Improve

2. Learn

3. Discover

C. Say "Yes Lord" Always

V. Conclusion

In John 1:5, it says that “…the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Jesus Christ is the light of the world and He has made us His light! As MFCs, let us make Jesus the light of our life so that we can radiate Christ’s light and spread it to the world. The lamp that we carry may seem tiny and simple, but it is a powerful instrument that can be used to overcome the darkness of the world. Since the source of our light is Christ Himself, that light can conquer anything!