Jesus is the light of the world, the eternal radiance of His Father. When He comes into the world, He chooses to dwell in a place of darkness and gloom, a place under the shadow of death, the despised borderland of Galilee.

Good for Jesus, we say. We’re happy He brings light to our dark places. We’re happy that we aren’t in darkness any longer. We think that, because of Jesus, we can avoid the place of the shadow of death.

Not so fast. Jesus is the light of the world. But He says, ” You are the light of the world.”

Don’t think: Because Jesus is light, we’re not. Think instead: Because Jesus is light, we are too. The anointing oil of the Spirit that illumines Him flows down to His body, and turns the whole body into a blazing lampstand, to be set on a hill.

Darkness frightens us, and our instinct when shadows stalk us is to retreat to the safe circle of light. That’s not what we’re called to do.

When your kids are stumbling in darkness, don’t run away. Get beside them to bring light. When a neighbor or brother or coworker is going through the valley of marital breakdown, settle down there to bring light. When your husband or wife suffers debilitating illness, be light in the darkness. When death seizes someone you love, be the light beside the death bed.

You are the light of the world, and you’re to do what Jesus did: Look for the gloom and settle down there.