Gospel Reading: Lk 8:16-18
Jesus said to the crowd: “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lamp stand so that those who enter may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.”
REFLECTION
NO ONE WHO LIGHTS A LAMP CONCEALS IT
This section calls people to respond to the light because of the dire consequences for not doing so. Jesus’ message is portrayed as light. He notes that one lights a lamp not to hide it but to make its light available by placing it on a lamp stand. The function of light is to make visible that which was previously hidden in darkness. So it will be with Jesus’ message. Everything that is hidden will be made known, and all secrets will be brought to light. We must therefore listen with care, since we are all accountable. There is much at stake, for whoever has, in terms of responding to revelation, will get more. On the other hand, those who do not have because they refuse to respond will lose what they seemed to have, ending up with nothing. In sum, God holds us accountable for his Word, and it is crucial that teaching the Word and hearing it well be paramount. He has put his revelation on a lamp stand where it is visible. So we all need to pay attention to what his truth reveals about where we are and what we are doing.
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If Jesus is the light of the world and we are his representatives, how do we reflect his light in our lives?
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SOURCE: “366 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
