"Light to the nations" – a Christian perspective

At the beginning of the creation of the world, God created light to light up the darkness. When he created the human person, the crown of creation, God intended that he walk in the light and thus he would make it even brighter on the face of the earth. Humans are called to live in the light as children of the Creator of light. However, the first human person preferred to hide in darkness, among the trees of the Garden, rather than turning to the merciful Father, imploring forgiveness for the sin of eating. Hiding in darkness was only the first step in a process of deterioration into the pits of sin, which included the spilling of innocent blood, the destructive flood and the confusion of languages.

With Abraham and his seed, God initiated a new beginning. The descendants of Abraham, especially the sons of Israel, were called to walk as children of light, who put into practice the word of God, thus becoming a blessing and projecting their light into the darkness. God brought them out of slavery into freedom, bestowing upon them God's Law at the mountain, leading them to the Land that was promised so that there they might indeed become children of light, brining all nations closer to His Law. "Many peoples shall come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem… O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!" (Isaiah 2:3.5). However, often, the people did not persevere in their faithfulness to their Redeemer and King. In fact, one of the greatest gifts, Israel gives to the world is the humble confession of sin that fills Israel's writing of her own history.

Prophets arose in Israel in order to remind the people of its vocation. Despite the fidelity of a "small rest", many among the people clung to their refusal of the light until the people was swallowed up in destruction and exile - this is the story that Israel tells in her own Scriptures, a story that astonishes the reader in its candid admission: we are sinners and we seek God's mercy. This in itself is a light shining in the darkness. God surprised one and all by His faithfulness and brought the people back to life, resurrecting them from the Exile in Babylon and bringing them back to the land of the living in order to renew their vocation: "I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." (Isaiah 49:6). This vocation is always valid as long as darkness reigns over much of the earth, even until today.

When the time was fulfilled, the merciful Father sent His only son, born to the virgin of Nazareth, from the people of Israel, named Mary. Millions of Christians, throughout the world believe that the son of Mary, Jesus his name, is the Messiah of Israel and the Redeemer of the world. He accomplished perfectly the mission of Israel – he was "light to the nations" and "the glory of Israel" (Luke 2:32). During the days of his mission on earth, he bore witness to himself, saying: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). However, in his first coming, most people did not accept him and they preferred the darkness to the light. He was put on trial and sentenced to death by crucifixion. When he died, darkness covered the face of the earth (Matthew 27:45). God surprised us once again by raising Jesus from the dead. In his death he conquered death, leaving the dark tomb empty. The followers of Jesus as Messiah and redeemer believe that he will come at the end of days in his full glory.

His disciples, after his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension into heaven, became his apostles, calling all to walk behind him, on the path of life he had bestowed. From the beginnings of he Church, the community of the disciples of Christ, sees herself as being called to live the historical vocation of Israel in order to attract all nations to the light of God, revealed in His Word. The Church spreads good news about Jesus: "In him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it" (John 1:4-5).

How great the privilege to live at a time when Jews and Christians discover their shared roots. A consciousness of the shared heritage leads Christians and Jews to proclaim the light together, a light which has its origins in God our common Father. The Church sees the Jewish people today as a partner in the spreading of belief in one God, who loves all His children and cries out so that they might recognize one another as brothers and sisters. We are called by Him to repair our world, to take care of it and make it prosper to the glory and honor of its Creator. Thus we actively contribute to the victory of light over darkness. May this indeed be His will!