“Witnessing to the Light: From Every-where for Everyone”—The SVD Jubilee Theme from a Biblical Perspective

“Witnessing to the Light: From Everywhere for Everyone”—The SVD Jubilee Theme from a Biblical Perspective
SVD Mission in Contexts: Creative Responses in a Wounded World
Wojciech Szypuła, SVD

 The recently concluded XIX General Chapter of the Society of the Divine Word drew its biblical inspiration from Matthew 5:16: “Your light must shine before others.” This selection resonates profoundly with the theme chosen for the Society’s sesquicentennial celebration (1875-2025), which likewise centers on the metaphor of light. This convergence—the metaphor of light appearing in both contexts—underscores a cohesive theological vision and demonstrates the metaphor’s enduring relevance to both the Chapter’s deliberations and the jubilee commemoration.

This reflection explores the jubilee theme by examining its three constituent elements through a biblical lens. It also situates these components—”the light,” “from everywhere,” “for everyone”—within the contemporary missiological landscape confronting the Society of the Divine Word, while establishing connections to the priorities articulated during the recent General Chapter.