For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible;
nothing is secret except to come to light.
There is a hidden beginning to much in the Kingdom. Things start small and growth is all but invisible. But they don't remain small. Eventually hidden seeds pierce the soil and become visible. The mustard seed does not remain the smallest of seeds but eventually become the largest of plants. Jesus himself began by emphasizing the hidden, for he did not spread the truth of his identity publicly all at one time. He in fact forbade those he healed from telling others too soon. It was in his resurrection that the seed finally pierced the soil of public view. It was therefore finally the proper time for the whole world to know, evidenced by the Great Commission Jesus gave to his disciples.
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation" (see Mark 16:15).
Corresponding to the way in which the Kingdom itself began hidden but finally manifested is the way it first takes root in the heart of individuals. There is much hiddenness that is necessary in our own lives, retiring to our inner room to pray, not letting our left hand know the good deeds that our right hand is doing. But these beginnings are not meant to prevent us from going public when the time comes. We allow the seed to be prepared in humility so that when it necessarily bursts through the soil it won't succumb to pride.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven (see Matthew 5:16).
We are called to shine our light, but without letting the focus become all about us. The more we can be self-forgetful while giving alms or speaking the truth the better it will be both for ourselves and others.
The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you,
and still more will be given to you.
Jesus reorders the common expectation, telling us to be concerned first with what we can give, rather than what we can get out of an exchange. The more this is truly our measure the more we will step out of our own way and become free to receive what God does in fact have in store for us as well. We are called to get ourselves off of our minds and to love others, but with the trust the God himself will take care of us.
To the one who has, more will be given;
The one who receives even a little from Jesus, who focuses on it, and puts it into practice opens herself to receive still more from him. If we begin in a small way to let our light shine and love others we will find that he himself responds to those who are faithful even in small matters. Even acts of giving that we think too insignificant to matter, when they are truly measured out in charity, turn out to have effects that are entirely disproportionate to the initial cause.
from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
If we try to rely entirely on what we have and what we are apart from Jesus we will find it to be an unsustainable enterprise. Apart from him we feel the need to measure out to ourselves before we give anything to others. But in emphasizing this need to be in charge of our own destiny, in this failure to trust in providence, we close ourselves off from the only things that truly matter, the lasting treasures of the Kingdom. Fortunately, the one who has not need not remain impoverished. Even the smallest seed in the Kingdom can be sufficient to fill an entire life and to change the world.
David had to learn that the essential thing for him was not what he could do for God but what God wanted to do for him. David wanted to build a temple for the Lord. But the Lord wanted to show David that, whatever David would measure out as gift, it would need to begin with the abundance of the Lord first blessing him. Before David built a house for the Lord the Lord promised a dynasty for David.
It is you, LORD of hosts, God of Israel,
who said in a revelation to your servant,
‘I will build a house for you.’
David still in some sense needed the hidden time to allow the Lord to work before the the temple could appear. He desired to measure out that gift, but the Lord did not want that temple to seem to be a work of men, or a point of pride. It was rather only in consequence of the Lord's gift of Solomon that they David, who did in fact store up the materials for the temple, would realize his dream.
How wonderful it is that the Lord can do such mighty deeds in the secret ordinary aspects of our lives. But we must also remember that we live in the age of the Spirit, having become witnesses of the resurrection, entrusted with the Gospel message. We ought to continue to keep hidden and secret space for growth, but not fear when the Lord himself desires that we let our light shine.
For the LORD has chosen Zion,
he prefers her for his dwelling:
"Zion is my resting place forever;
in her I will dwell, for I prefer her."
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