The Parable of the Lamp
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Lk 8:16-18
[Jesus said to his disciples,] 16“No
one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed;
rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the
light. 17For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light. 18Take
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:
He places it on a lampstand.
In ancient Palestine, a house is built in a way that it is illumined
from a single source. When it is dark enough to light a lamp, one sets
it on a stand from where it gives light to all in the house and to all
who enter it.
In
this context, the light is the word of God, the message of the kingdom
of God that Jesus has been proclaiming all over Galilee. Hearing the
word of God is, in fact, the theme of this section of Luke (8:1-21).
The
message of the kingdom of God must be a light set high enough to
illumine everything around. It must not be hidden, to remain an
underground reality, or whispered in secret. It must be proclaimed
openly. The disciples of Jesus must share with others what God has done
to them.
For
us today, the Gospel asks what we have done with what we have received
from the Lord, whether we are more productive and more grateful. We are
to spread and share with the less fortunate the message and the
blessings of the Gospel. As we are blessed by the light of the Gospel,
our lives should be a blessing to others.
How are you a blessing to people you meet every day?
Or what keeps you from being a light to others?
Fear of persecution, fear of being ostracized,
fear of rejection, ridicule, insult, loss of privileges, and the like?
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