When the war ended, Papaderos became convinced his people needed to let go of the hatred the war had unleashed. To help the process, he founded an institute for peace and understanding near the very place where the German paratroopers had landed and brought devastation to the island.

One day, while taking questions at the end of a lecture, Papaderos was asked, “What’s the meaning of life?” There was nervous laughter in the room. It was such a weighty question. But Papaderos answered it.

He opened his wallet, took out a small, round mirror and held it up for everyone to see. During the war he was just a small boy when he came across a motorcycle wreck. The motorcycle had belonged to German soldiers. Alexander saw pieces of broken mirrors from the motorcycle lying on the ground. He tried to put them together but couldn’t, so he took the largest piece and scratched it against a stone until its edges were smooth and it was round. He used it as a toy, fascinated by the way he could use it to shine light into holes and crevices.

He kept that mirror with him as he grew up, and over time it came to symbolize something very important. It became a metaphor for what he might do with his life.

“I am a fragment of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not know. Nevertheless, with what I have I can reflect light into the dark places of this world – into the black places in the hearts of men – and change some things in some people. Perhaps others may see and do likewise. This is what I am about. This is the meaning of my life.” *

Friends, Jesus is the Light of the world.  He said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life” (John 8:12).  As the light of the world, Jesus exposes the darkness (sin) in each of us, but He also illuminates the way to forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and eternal life with Him in heaven.  Jesus is the Way to forgiveness and eternal life, and it required His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins (John 14:6; Hebrews 10:19-22).

The Lord Jesus gave Saul (whose name was changed to Paul) a mission to the people of the world: “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me” (Acts 26:18).  Paul accomplished his mission by telling others of Jesus, the Light of the world.

May each of us receive the Light of Jesus through our trusting obedience and continue to reflect the Light of Jesus into the world.

-- David A. Sargent