On the cross, we encounter the commitment that is required of us as Christians. For sure, the Gospel has never romanticised what Christian discipleship may entail; and I do not intend to run a different campaign for Jesus now.

Yet, Jesus does not compel us to be part of this light that shines on our world. Rather, he simply puts out the invitation, “Come, follow me.” We could choose to respond to this invitation and, like the candle, risk being burnt out bringing hope to the poor, healing the sick, building community and proclaiming God’s reign. On the other hand, we could choose to be “decorative Christians” and continue to attend religious services, but remain nonchalant to the systemic injustice and oppression that plague the world’s poor.

We need not be reminded that our friendship with God has placed us here and now. Jesus wants us to be the ones to shepherd his people wherever we are. We need to be prepared for the controversy and anticipate our own modern-day version of the cross that inevitably follows. People will be threatened and offended by our commitment, and they will go to no limit to stop us. Like Jesus, we will face hostility and opposition from our own religious communities and the Church itself.

As you know, He has been taken from the cross not to leave it empty: it is ours now to mount. Jesus started the enterprise; it is ours to join. But Jesus hopes that we will give our life for the scripture’s fulfilment. If we do, we will have the consolation of knowing that we served the mission of Jesus. Nothing is more important.

If we risk being that light that radiates God’s glory and biblical justice, we will share in its fulfilment and enter his resurrection in God’s reign of peace. What Jesus wants of us as mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters is to become that light of hope and justice that will shine upon the world of the poor and the marginalised. Today, Jesus looks at each one of us and says, “If you understand all this, blessed are you if you act accordingly.”