Who are we not to?

 

"It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.  ....  We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same."                    - Marianne Williamson. 

I always thought this quote came from Nelson Mandela, but not so.  I must then first apologize to Ms Marianne Williamson, the source of this powerful insight into personal greatness.  It reminds us that greatness is the opportunity and call offered to all of us, not just a select few.  We too readily question how this can be or doubt its possibility.  

I posit that the baseline is to recognize the imperfection of our world, that here we are and, in the midst of its imperfection, greatness is possible. It is in the midst of the chaos and craziness of our world and our lives that we are challenged to greatness.  True greatness is defined by who we are with and for others.  It is achieved by our pursuit to be and act for the sake of the common good, for the voiceless and marginalized in our world.  

The gospel names it as, we are light of the world.  In the midst of darkness, in the midst of our life struggles, our goodness radiates light.  While in the Congo, Pope Francis used the analogy of the diamond. It is the most precious of stones radiating light and showing forth beauty.  He reminds us that we are more precious than the most valuable diamond, that our true wealth is found in people, in us, and in our relationships with one another.