Day 17: Light and Joy

“[With] Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, she becomes the model for those in the Church who set out to bring Christ’s light and joy to the people of every time and place.” – St. John Paul II 

Before I was born, my parents were having trouble picking a baby name, so my aunt gave them a book of saint-inspired baby names! They stumbled across the name Claire and fell in love with it because it means “Light.”

Growing up, my mom would drop me off at school every day. These car rides consisted of many things. Sometimes my brothers and I would be half asleep, sometimes excited chatter about an upcoming project or field trip, and sometimes we would just sit in silence; but no matter what the car ride looked like, my mom would send us off on our days with a smile on her face, with the phrase, “Be the Light of Christ to the World!” 

“Christ be Our Light”, was a song I heard at least once a week at Mass. 

I didn’t understand the power of these words and choices that shaped my childhood until recently. What does it mean to be the Light of Christ to the world? This concept was ingrained in my brain for years without any formal acknowledgement. It was just something that was a part of my being, but as I grew up and saw the world in a different light, it was something I NEEDED to acknowledge, because I grew to understand the importance of it. The concept of being Christ’s light to the world was no longer about being, it was about choosing. The choice to look at each moment and interaction as an opportunity for joy, presence, and intentionality. Whether it be a friend, family member, or a stranger you pass everyday on your way to work, the opportunities of sharing joy are endless: a simple text message, running an errand with a friend, or a smile to a passerby. They are all ways to share light and joy, and with each simple choice, we change this world. 

So, these questions float around in my head as I have embarked on this journey of choosing to say “Yes” and bring the light of Christ to the world like Mary: How can I truly emulate Mary? How can I bring the light of the world into the darkness that surrounds me? Mary is the Queen of Heaven and Earth! She shows each of us the way to Her Son through courage, compassion, humility, trust, and faith. We can choose every day to try our best, to accompany others in this walk of life, and do all of these things with the Love and Light of Christ in our hearts! 

Mary chose to share her joy with her cousin, the joy that was in her heart because she was carrying the light of the world and had full faith in God the Father. She chose “Yes!” and gives us, her sons and daughters, a perfect example of how we can say “Yes!” to God’s will for us everyday. We hold the power to shape the world because of Mary’s yes to bring Christ and his light to the world. 

Question for Reflection: How can you be the light of Christ and share Christ’s joy through everyday choices?