It’s not easy to follow Christ in a world that often moves in the opposite direction. Many people today live as though God were absent, and the values we hold dear—truth, purity, compassion, humility—can seem out of place. Yet this very contrast reminds us that faith is not a decoration on life; it’s a way of living that shines even in darkness.
When we live for God, we don’t escape the world—we become His presence within it. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). That means we’re not called to hide our faith, but to let it speak through kindness, integrity, and peace. When we act with love where others act with indifference, or forgive when the world expects revenge, we make the invisible God visible.
The first step is interior: staying close to God through prayer, the sacraments, and Scripture. These are not mere duties but lifelines. In prayer, we learn to see the world with God’s eyes. In the Eucharist, we receive strength that no culture can give. The more we draw from Him, the less we are shaped by the noise around us.
Then, we live outwardly what we believe inwardly. Faithfulness at work, patience in the family, honesty in small things—these are powerful witnesses. Sometimes, living for God means simply refusing to be swept up in cynicism or compromise. It means believing that grace is stronger than the trends of the moment.
Remember, even in a secular society, God is not absent. He is quietly working through hearts that trust Him. If you let Him, He will use your life—your words, your choices, your compassion—as a gentle light in the world.
May we not fear being different for Christ’s sake. The light of one faithful soul can awaken faith in many others.
— Fr. John Matthew, for Christian Way
