At the La Divina P astora devotions last January 8, Fr Shijo of La Brea officiated. The choir was made up of the young men of Presentation College , San Fernando , who also did the readings at Mass and led the praying of the rosary.

It was the Feast of the Epiphany and the theme of Father's homily was Let Your Light Shine Before Others. He told the story of a suicidal youth whose attitude was transformed because of the expressed happiness of a young girl and her brother.

Their happiness was so real as they danced and sang near to where he sat and brooded, that after some time he was dancing and singing along with them -- no more thoughts of suicide on his mind.

We are called to do the same as the dancing duo - to let our light shine before others. It has strong leverage power!

At baptism, we receive the Light of Christ and we are to bear that Light always, for its purpose is to dispel evil and spread l ife.

Throughout scripture, light is used as a strong symbol. Ps 27 says,  “T he Lord is my light and my salvation .” Isaiah said, “.... no sun or moon will give you light, but Yahweh himself ”. There is also the Light that led and guarded the Hebrews as they left Egypt , and the Light that fell on Saul, liberating and transforming him into Paul, Apostle of Christ.

Jesus is Light because of His preaching, healing, raising of people from death and by His own death on the cross and resurrection. If we reflect the Light of Jesus Christ, we are called from darkness into light and that light must shine for others to see their way in all aspects of life.

And, like Jesus, even if we suffer, we must continue to let our light shine. Praying for others is another way of letting our light shine.

Mother Teresa let her light shine among the poor of Calcutta . She was compassionate and merciful to those who had nothing. In this way, she reflected the Light to them, and to the whole world.

This is what each of us is called to do. She followed Isaiah's teaching when he said that it is not fasting that will get us to God, but sharing what we have with the poor - only then will our light shine.

People wait in darkness for light to be shed on them, and when another human does this, a Christian is born. This is the purpose of our life: live like Christ and reflect His Light.

The best way to be Christians is to live like the happy, dancing girl and her brother, who set the light of happiness on the suicidal youth and changed his life. Then, our light shines.

Thank you Fr Shijo for enlightening us! Thank you Presentation College youths for your spirit-filled music.

The next in the series of devotions to La Divina Pastora takes place on February 12. We urge you to attend.