--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: May we be enlightened by a ray of the…" description: "\"May we be enlightened by a ray of the light that comes from Bethlehem, the light of He who is 'The Greatest' and made himself small.\" — Pope Benedict XVI" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/pope-benedict-xvi-414_bethlehem_may-we-be-enlightened-by-a-ray-of-the-li_1384403.jpg" --- # May we be enlightened by a ray of the light that comes… ![“May we be enlightened by a ray of the light that comes from Bethlehem, the light of He who is 'The Greatest' and made himself small.” quote by Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/pope-benedict-xvi-414_bethlehem_may-we-be-enlightened-by-a-ray-of-the-li_1384403.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/pope-benedict-xvi-414_bethlehem_may-we-be-enlightened-by-a-ray-of-the-li_1384403.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/pope-benedict-xvi-414_bethlehem_may-we-be-enlightened-by-a-ray-of-the-li_1384403.jpg) > “May we be enlightened by a ray of the light that comes from Bethlehem, the light of He who is 'The Greatest' and made himself small.” [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True greatness is shown by humility, as the greatest light comes from a small, humble source. **In simple terms:** Greatness is humility. Key Takeaway Practice modesty and service. Themes humility spirituality leadership Mood contemplative inspirational Type spiritual ethical When to use this quote - religious worship - leadership roles - personal growth - community service Key Concepts theology Christology virtue Questions to Reflect On - In what ways can you be humble today? - How does humility strengthen influence? A Different Perspective Humility may be undervalued in competitive cultures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Enlightened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightened/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) ## Related quotes > [Light is the greatest disinfectant in nature and also in organizations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/light-is-the-greatest-disinfectant-in-nature-and-also-in-organizations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Today Christmas has become a commercial celebration, whose bright lights hide the mystery of God’s humility, which in turn calls us to humility and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/today-christmas-has-become-a-commercial-celebration-whose-bright/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Which direction do we take? The one prompted by the passions or the one indicated by the star which shines in your conscience? The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/which-direction-do-we-take-the-one-prompted-by-the-passions-or-the/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“If you're solving someone else's problem, you're constantly stabbing in the dark. When you solve your own problem, the light comes on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-fried/if-you-re-solving-someone-else-s-problem-you-re-constantly-stabbing/) [Jason Fried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-fried/) > [Just when you think you can't go on, somewhere a little light comes on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-flack/just-when-you-think-you-can-t-go-on-somewhere-a-little-light-comes-on/) Sophie Flack > [“When the heart is on fire, light comes from within.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tania-silva/when-the-heart-is-on-fire-light-comes-from-within/) Tania Silva > [“In the act itself there is a point at which a light that comes from nowhere starts flickering like a strobe. What happens is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-davies/in-the-act-itself-there-is-a-point-at-which-a-light-that-comes-from/) [Luke Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-davies/) > [“Even on the cloudiest days, a lone sunflower stands tall in the field near my village home, reminding us that true light comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhuwan-thapaliya/even-on-the-cloudiest-days-a-lone-sunflower-stands-tall-in-the-field/) [Bhuwan Thapaliya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhuwan-thapaliya/) > [I've always seen the bright lights of the angels, and I know that lower-entities can't disguise this light, because it only comes from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doreen-virtue/i-ve-always-seen-the-bright-lights-of-the-angels-and-i-know-that/) [Doreen Virtue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doreen-virtue/) > [Oppression won't win, the light comes from within.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mccartney/oppression-won-t-win-the-light-comes-from-within/) [Linda McCartney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mccartney/) > [“Like the beach glass, the wood was more beautiful because of its journey, because of the things it had been through. Inside the perfect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-wingate/like-the-beach-glass-the-wood-was-more-beautiful-because-of-its/) [Lisa Wingate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-wingate/) > [“A star is not afraid of darkness, for its light comes from within.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/a-star-is-not-afraid-of-darkness-for-its-light-comes-from-within/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [“Remember that in the beginning there is always darkness before the light comes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-evermore/remember-that-in-the-beginning-there-is-always-darkness-before-the/) A. Evermore > [“I see the light shining in your faces. That light comes from the Lord, and as you radiate that light, it will bless you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-e-faust/i-see-the-light-shining-in-your-faces-that-light-comes-from-the-lord/) [James E. Faust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-e-faust/) > [By the way, most of the light that comes from the sun is green.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-nye/by-the-way-most-of-the-light-that-comes-from-the-sun-is-green/) [Bill Nye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-nye/) ## More by Pope Benedict XVI > [The fact that the Lord can work and act even with insufficient means consoles me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-fact-that-the-lord-can-work-and-act-even-with-insufficient-means/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [If you abide in the love of Christ, rooted in the faith, you will encounter, even amid setbacks and suffering, the source of true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-you-abide-in-the-love-of-christ-rooted-in-the-faith-you-will/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Continue to witness to the Gospel every day and commit yourselves generously in the next missionary initiatives in the Diocese of Rome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/continue-to-witness-to-the-gospel-every-day-and-commit-yourselves/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Jesus’ example of fidelity to prayer challenges us to examine the time and effort we devote to our own prayer. While prayer is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-example-of-fidelity-to-prayer-challenges-us-to-examine-the-time/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [If we look to the saints, this great luminous wake with which God has passed through history, we truly see that here is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-we-look-to-the-saints-this-great-luminous-wake-with-which-god-has/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“Joseph Ratzinger never developed his own theological system. As a theologian he took on what was there, discerned its essentials, situated it in relation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/joseph-ratzinger-never-developed-his-own-theological-system-as-a/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Jesus Christ does not teach us a spirituality “of closed eyes”, but one of “alertness”, one which entails an absolute duty to take notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-christ-does-not-teach-us-a-spirituality-of-closed-eyes-but-one/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Joy is the true gift of Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/joy-is-the-true-gift-of-christmas/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Material possessions, in themselves, are good. We would not survive for long without money, clothing and shelter. We must eat in order to stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/material-possessions-in-themselves-are-good-we-would-not-survive-for/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [One of the promising indications of a renewal in the Church's missionary consciousness in recent decades, has been the growing desire of many lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/one-of-the-promising-indications-of-a-renewal-in-the-church-s/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [God loves us despite our shortcomings and sins, and his love gives meaning to our lives and to the life of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/god-loves-us-despite-our-shortcomings-and-sins-and-his-love-gives/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [It's a great responsibility before God, the judge who guides us, who draws us to truth and good, and in this sense the church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-s-a-great-responsibility-before-god-the-judge-who-guides-us-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Discovering the beauty and joy of faith is a path that every new generation must take on its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/discovering-the-beauty-and-joy-of-faith-is-a-path-that-every-new/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Apostolic and missionary fruitfulness is not principally due to programmes and pastoral methods that are cleverly drawn up and "efficient", but is the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/apostolic-and-missionary-fruitfulness-is-not-principally-due-to/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) [Explore all 575 Pope Benedict XVI quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) ## More Bethlehem quotes > [“Rachel’s tomb is located a short distance north of Bethlehem, on the road between Jerusalem and Hebron. It consists of a small building with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/rachel-s-tomb-is-located-a-short-distance-north-of-bethlehem-on-the/) [Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/) > [One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/one-response-was-given-by-the-innkeeper-when-mary-and-joseph-wanted/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [This Christmas, as the spirit of the season permeates our hearts, let us do something that expresses our feelings in an outward way, showing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-e-stevenson/this-christmas-as-the-spirit-of-the-season-permeates-our-hearts-let/) [Gary E. Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-e-stevenson/) > [And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches toward Bethlehem to be born?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/and-what-rough-beast-its-hour-come-round-at-last-slouches-toward/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [Force was the factor in the government of the world when Christ was born, and force was the source and exercise of authority both…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-depew/force-was-the-factor-in-the-government-of-the-world-when-christ-was/) [Chauncey Depew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-depew/) > [“Shall we go to Bethlehem, men? Or shall we DANCE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/shall-we-go-to-bethlehem-men-or-shall-we-dance/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Maybe your life resembles a Bethlehem stable. Crude in some spots, smelly in others. Not much glamour. Not always neat. People in your circle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/maybe-your-life-resembles-a-bethlehem-stable-crude-in-some-spots/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [During the first 13 centuries after the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, no one thought of setting up a creche to celebrate Christmas. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pearcey/during-the-first-13-centuries-after-the-birth-of-jesus-in-bethlehem/) [Nancy Pearcey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pearcey/) > [Bethlehem and Golgotha, the Manger and the Cross, the birth and the death, must always be seen together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sidlow-baxter/bethlehem-and-golgotha-the-manger-and-the-cross-the-birth-and-the/) [J. Sidlow Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-sidlow-baxter/) > [It is difficult to look at any newborn baby and accept that he or she will necessarily encounter pain, challenges, disappointments, and hardships in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-d-huntsman/it-is-difficult-to-look-at-any-newborn-baby-and-accept-that-he-or-she/) [Eric D. Huntsman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-d-huntsman/) > [Christ was born in the first century, yet he belongs to all centuries. He was born a Jew, yet He belongs to all races.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-truett/christ-was-born-in-the-first-century-yet-he-belongs-to-all-centuries/) [George W Truett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-truett/) > [Let the Bible be the Bible. It's not about science. It's not accurate history. It is a grab bag of religious fantasies written by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-gardner/let-the-bible-be-the-bible-it-s-not-about-science-it-s-not-accurate/) [Martin Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-gardner/) > [Christmas in Bethlehem. The ancient dream: a cold, clear night made brilliant by a glorious star, the smell of incense, shepherds and wise men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucinda-franks/christmas-in-bethlehem-the-ancient-dream-a-cold-clear-night-made/) [Lucinda Franks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucinda-franks/) > [I am not a believer in large salaries. I hold that every man should be paid for personal production. Our big men at Bethlehem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schwab/i-am-not-a-believer-in-large-salaries-i-hold-that-every-man-should-be/) [Charles M. Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schwab/) > [Christ could be born a thousand times in Bethlehem - but all in vain until He is born in me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelus-silesius/christ-could-be-born-a-thousand-times-in-bethlehem-but-all-in-vain/) [Angelus Silesius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelus-silesius/) Browse all 109 Bethlehem quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "May we be enlightened by a ray of the light that comes from Bethlehem, the light of He who is 'The Greatest' and made himself small.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Pope Benedict XVI" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/may-we-be-enlightened-by-a-ray-of-the-light-that-comes-from-bethlehem/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Bethlehem" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/may-we-be-enlightened-by-a-ray-of-the-light-that-comes-from-bethlehem/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/pope-benedict-xvi-414_bethlehem_may-we-be-enlightened-by-a-ray-of-the-li_1384403.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/pope-benedict-xvi-414_bethlehem_may-we-be-enlightened-by-a-ray-of-the-li_1384403.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/60b/pope-benedict-xvi-414_bethlehem_may-we-be-enlightened-by-a-ray-of-the-li_1384403.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“May we be enlightened by a ray of the light that comes from Bethlehem, the light of He who is 'The Greatest'…” — Pope Benedict XVI", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Pope Benedict XVI", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "May we be enlightened by a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/may-we-be-enlightened-by-a-ray-of-the-light-that-comes-from-bethlehem/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/may-we-be-enlightened-by-a-ray-of-the-light-that-comes-from-bethlehem/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```