Living as Light in a Dark World

+JMJ+ The past week has felt unbearably heavy. We’ve remembered the anniversary of 9/11, a day etched in our nation’s memory with grief and heroism. We’ve witnessed senseless violence, including the murder of Charlie Kirk, whose bold witness shook many to their core. Many of us are feeling the spiritual weight of a world that seems increasingly hostile to truth, goodness, and beauty.

There is no denying it: we are in the midst of spiritual warfare. The darkness can feel suffocating at times. Yet, as Christians and Catholics, we are not called to despair. We are called to courage, to faith, to perseverance, to love, and to hope.

The Gospel Challenge

On the very day we remembered 9/11, the Gospel proclaimed in Mass came from Luke 6:27–38:

“To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you…”

I don’t know about you, but these words hit me hard. In moments of pain, anger, and fear, my natural instinct is not to bless but to defend. It is not to pray for my enemies but to protect myself from them. Yet, Christ’s command is clear: we are to love, forgive, and extend mercy even to those who wound us.

This doesn’t mean ignoring evil or pretending that harm does not exist, but it does mean refusing to let bitterness consume us. It means fighting darkness not with more darkness but with the light of Christ. It’s not always easy living out this counter-cultural message.

Day to Day Struggles

I won’t sugarcoat it—this has been a difficult season for me personally. Pregnancy complications and concerns have left me physically and emotionally drained. On top of that, outside conflicts have weighed heavily on my heart only worsening those burdens.

We all have something we are struggling with.

In times like these, I understand how tempting it can be to become consumed with resentment and fear. It’s tempting to become absorbed by what other people say or think. It’s tempting to focus on the noise instead of the still, small voice of God. Jesus’ words help to pull us back to the truth: our call is not to please the world. Rather, our calling is to remain faithful to Him. Our worth, our peace, and our identity come from Christ alone. Pleasing Him is all that matters.

Raising Saints in a Broken World

As a mother, I often worry about my children. The world they are growing up in feels hostile to innocence, truth, and holiness. My instinct is to shield them from every harm, but I also know something deeper: God placed my children (and each and every one of us) in this time in history for a reason.

He could have created us at any moment in time, yet He chose now. That means He has a plan for us, a mission only we can fulfill. My job as a parent is to remind my children who they are: beloved children of God. My job is to raise them to be saints, to encourage them to stand for truth, to be holy warriors of light in a culture that prefers darkness.

That doesn’t mean we all must be public figures or loud voices. Some of us may be called to lead from the stage while others may be called to live quiet holiness in the hidden corners of life. What matters is that we boldly and faithfully follow Christ wherever He leads.

Each of us has been placed in this moment of history for a reason. God does not make mistakes.

We cannot face this world on our own. We aren’t strong enough, wise enough, or brave enough in our own power. With God, all things are possible! He equips us with the grace we need for the trials of our time, fills us with courage to stand firm when we are ridiculed, misunderstood, or hated, and gives us peace even when the world around us is in chaos.

The Call for All of Us

Standing for truth is not always about making public speeches. Sometimes it is quieter and far more difficult. It can mean refusing to be drawn into manipulation, gossip, or deceit. It can mean stepping back when lies are being spread or when the truth is being twisted. It can mean holding firm to integrity even when it costs us our reputation, our relationships, or the approval of those around us.

Christ calls us not only to proclaim truth but to live it. Sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is to quietly refuse to participate in falsehood and wrongdoing even when others misunderstand our intentions.

Discipleship will inevitably cost us something. It always has. It cost Jesus His very life. It cost the martyrs their blood. It cost saints their reputations, their comfort, and their safety, and it will cost us too. Yet, that cost pales in comparison to the glory of living as faithful children of God.

Light in the Darkness

There is a heaviness in the air right now—a deep sense of grief, division, and fear. We need to remind ourselves and one another that God has not abandoned us. In fact, He is calling us now more than ever to be light in the darkness.

That light might look like boldness, as in the life of Charlie Kirk. It might look like quiet holiness, as in the life of St. Carlo Acutis. It might look like forgiving an enemy, blessing those who curse us, or choosing peace over retaliation.

What matters is that we put Christ first and let His light shine through us even when it means risking being hated or misunderstood. We need to remain steadfast in prayer and never let go of hope.

Remain Faithful

Yes, the days are dark. Yes, the world feels heavy, but we were made for this time. We were created for this very moment. God knows what He is doing and He created us, not by accident, but by His divine design.

Our task is simple but profound: to remain faithful, to live with courage, to be saints, to raise saints, to let Christ’s light shine through us even when it feels costly, and to remember that no matter how fierce the battle, the victory has already been won in Christ.

The cost of discipleship is steep, but the reward is eternal. May we live with integrity, courage, and love, so that when the darkness presses in, the world will see the light of Christ shining in us.

Lord,

When the world feels heavy and the darkness surrounds us, remind us that you are our light and our strength. Give us courage to stand firm in truth, to resist the lies and manipulations that seek to confuse and divide. Fill us with humility to walk in your ways and perseverance to remain faithful no matter the cost. May our lives reflect your love and bring hope to those around us.

Amen.

God, help us to remain faithful always!