MONDAY SEPTEMBER 22, 2024
MONDAY OF THE TWENTY FIFTH WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME B
ST PIO OF PIETRELCINA (Padre Pio) P. (MEMORIAL)
Proverbs 3:27-34
Luke 8:16-18
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE FOR OTHERS
Jesus likens the Christian life with the symbol of light. That light illumines. That no one lights a lamb and covers it. The light is not meant to be covered but to be exposed and to give great effect to those around. Meaning that light illumines others and the surrounding.
The task of light is to illumine the place. In doing so, it brightens the surrounding and reveals the objects around it that is, it shows the things around it and makes them known. So it reveals the ways, shows the truth of things, exposes the natural things the way they are. Light has great effects when it enters a place. It kills darkness and brings out truth , revealing all around.
So when Jesus says that no one lights a light and covers it, he means to say that light overshadows all things around it and reveals them. Such the power of light is so strong that darkness can not overcome it. Rather it overcomes darkness. It shows all such that nothing is hidden before light. It manifests all that it shines and shows what they are.
As Christians called to the light and to be light of the world, our duty is to overcome the darkness of error and to reveal the truth in creation. It is not just revealing the truth but also radiating truth of Christ. Being that which Christ would have been. While we kill darkness of error, we at the same time become radiators of the goodness of God and testify to the beauty of creation by being merciful and loving.
And we do such generously without reserves and without being asked to or begged to because it is in the nature of light to do such. We show the beauty of creation, the truth in creation and the celestial glory of God is revealed.
Doing it generously, we never relent and so the more we radiate, the more we gain richer. So Jesus uses the analogy of light to remind us that we must continually shine forth in the world, and reveal the ideals of Christ to the world. We must end the era of darkness and live to reveal the true nature of our Saviour and Christ to the world as a compassionate and loving Saviour.
Heavenly Father, as light to the world, you have made us specially to radiate the beauty of Christ your Son and live out the ideals of love, compassion and grace. Help us to be light to our world, our surroundings and those that encounter us in life. May our light shine, dispelling darkness and revealing the beauty of God, bringing joy, succor, forgiveness and peace into peoples lives through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
