I Saw You - What I Learned From The Chosen's Nathaniel
One of the many things I love about the Catholic Church is its use of stained-glass windows as an architectural component within a building as well as a means of catechesis.
While touring the village of Assisi several years ago, I learned that St. Francis was the first to adopt the use of statues, icons, and windows as a means of teaching the faithful about God, Jesus, the Church, and the saints. What a brilliant idea! | ![]() La Porziuncola inside the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli |
We have three churches in our parish, a main church and two mission churches. The main church has many stained-glass windows, and all of them feature beautiful depictions of various scenes from the Bible. They range from the Annunciation of Jesus’s conception to His Resurrection and many important events in between. There are windows around the altar bearing the images of several saints.
One of the most beautiful things about these windows in our main church is how, when the sun shines through them, they bring us right into the stories they depict. They are, I believe, exactly what St Francis intended them to be. They are awe-inspiring.
Saints Peter and Paul Church, Easton, Maryland
One night, a few years ago, I had a revelation about those windows. As I sat next to my husband at a Lenten penance service, I noticed that when there is no light shining through the windows, they are completely dark. They depict a great void. They are nothing more than meaningless, colorless shapes. With no light, they become interwoven shapes with no faces, no detailed landscapes, no recognizable places or people.
And that got me thinking…
Is that what I look like when I’m not letting God’s light shine through? Am I nothing more than a meaningless, colorless person? Are my features blank, unrecognizable spaces? When I let my fears, my hopelessness, or my despair cause me to lose sight of God and all His goodness, do I look like an inanimate, two-dimensional being?
Upon further inspection, this goes even deeper than one's physical appearance. Jesus told us, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house” (Matthew 5:14-15).
What does this mean?
At its most basic, it means that people of faith aren’t meant to prevent the light from coming in or to walk around in a fog of gloom and despair. We are meant to be a people of joy! We are meant to spread the Gospel and do it joyfully. We are meant to live in the light and shine that light on others. As people of faith, we are the chosen lampstands giving light to the whole house of God.
St Pope John Paul II said, "let yourselves be taken over by the light of Christ, and spread that light wherever you are." We are meant to be filled with Christ's light, to share our time and our talents, to serve others, and to spread light and joy to all.
Sure, there will be bad times, and times when we won’t feel like smiling or serving others. Even the day must succumb to the night. Heartbreak, loneliness, and sin can turn off the light and plunge us into darkness.
However, we are meant to strive for a life outside of sin and selfishness. Pope Benedict XVI said, "Sometimes men and women prefer the darkness to the light because they are attached to their sins. Nevertheless it is only by opening oneself to the light and only by sincerely confessing one's sins to God that one finds true peace and true joy."
Thankfully, there is always a dawn, another day for the sun to shine, when all gloom and despair and darkness will subside. Somehow, even in our darkest times, we need only to find the faith to reach deep inside and lift off the bushel basket.
Observe the stained-glass windows of a church shine brilliantly when touched by the sun. Watch as they reveal exquisite details and bring to life the stories of Christ and the saints. Marvel as they light the church with their brilliance. | ![]() Window depicting St. Cecelia at St. Fidelis Basilica, Victoria, Kansas |
That is what we are meant to do--to shine with the glory of God. That is what we are meant to do--to shine with the glory of God. Like stained glass windows come to life when touched by the sunlight, we come to life when touched by the Son's Light. When we are filled with faith, we become people of the light. We are transformed, just as Jesus was transformed at the Transfiguration, radiating God's light to the world.
“Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16).
Adapted from Amy's Blog, 21 March 2018