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." (Luke 8: 16-18)
Introductory Prayer: Lord,
you dwell in brightness, truth and love. Nothing makes sense without your love.
Without you, Lord, insipidity invades people, things and events. I believe that
you are my refuge and the source of my happiness now and forever. I am
convinced that your promises will be fulfilled sooner or later; this is why I
prefer a single day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.
Petition: Lord, enlighten
my mind and heart to follow your path that leads to the endless day.
1. Torch Bearers: There
are advantages to carrying a torch in the dark. This common knowledge informed
our Lord’s address and helped him propose it to his listeners. At night, a
torchbearer sheds light so that all who are with him can walk confidently,
without stumbling along a dark path. Time is not wasted stepping insecurely and
hesitantly; rather, the whole group walks purposefully and goes quickly where
it needs and wants to be. When a group has a torchbearer, all in it are
relieved, including the torchbearer himself. This is the value of my faith to a
highly secularized society. Do I nurture an appreciation for the gift of faith
that I have received from God? Am I afraid to allow its light to shine?
2. Wisdom at its Best: Jesus
affirms, “For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing
secret that will not be known and come to light.” When I am not praised and
recognized by others, I might feel sad or forgotten. This is when I need to
shine a lot of light to get out of that black hole. Do my good works seem to go
unperceived? The Lord himself will expose them on the judgment day. The more
they are hidden from others now, the more merits I will gain before God. All secrets will be
cracked open in the future. My duty is not to crack them open now, but to keep
them hidden and to be a torchbearer for the journey to that place of eternal
reward.
3. A Rewarded Success: “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.” Here Jesus plumbs deeper into what we have
already reflected on. “To anyone who has” obviously refers to the
torchbearer who has successfully led his band of friends. He will be entrusted
with more responsibility, or simply respected by the others. “…And from
the one who has not”: The torchbearer who can’t keep his flame alive will be
ousted. He will be taken away. Do I staunchly live the fire of the faith, or do
I hesitate in witnessing to his love?
Conversation with Christ: Lord,
help me to be a wise torchbearer. Do not allow laziness and presumption to
distract me from the basic task of keeping my lamp filled with oil at all
times. Lord, give me a robust faith!
Resolution: In my conversations today, I will bear witness to the light by avoiding
all slanderous talk, and I will elevate the topics of conversation by talking
about things that could inspire others to praise God
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