Text for the Month
‘’You are the light of the world - like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.’’ (Matthew 5:14)
November begins with All Saints’ Day – a day of remembering. We pause to think of those who have gone before us, whose lives have touched ours in ways big or small. Some are the “official” saints of history; others are the everyday people who helped shape us – a grandparent, a friend, a teacher, someone who showed kindness when we needed it most. Remembering them reminds us that light doesn’t disappear when life ends. It continues to shine in the people and stories that follow.
A few days later comes St. Martin’s Day. Across Germany, children walk through the streets with lanterns, singing songs of warmth and light. The tradition - which we at the German YMCA also uphold, this year on 7th November - recalls St. Martin, who famously shared his cloak with a man in need. It’s a simple story, but it captures something deeply human – the idea that when we share what we have, we bring a little more light into the world.
As the days grow shorter and the evenings darker, these two moments – All Saints’ and St. Martin’s – invite us to think about the light we carry. Sometimes it’s bright and full of energy; other times it flickers quietly, needing care and shelter. But every light matters. A small act of kindness, a word of encouragement, a moment of understanding - all these are ways of keeping the light alive.
‘’You are the light of the world - like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.’’
Matthew 5:14
So this November, as lanterns glow in the streets and candles are lit in memory, may we each take a moment to remember the lights that guided us, and to pass that light on in our own way.
Sabrina Gröschel, Chaplain of the German YMCA in London