23 September 2024 - this little light of mine

Today's Readings

(Audio)

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.

We've been singing about letting our light shine so long that such a teaching may seem fairly unremarkable. But we should keep in mind all the times Jesus told someone not to speak about something he had done. This included various miracles of healing, such as when he brought the daughter of Jairus back from the dead (see Mark 5:35-43) and his Transfiguration (see Mark 9:2-13). It would have been possible on that basis to misconstrue the fellowship around Jesus as some kind of mystery cult that would always keep its teachings for initiates and its most profound mysteries for the highest members. 

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.

Although early Christians would keep some of the rituals a secret, lest they be misunderstood, they did not keep the core teachings of the Gospel to themselves. Christianity had mystagogy but it was no mystery cult. It was intended that Christians would spread their message to the world. Before the resurrection it may have been appropriate to keep some such matters to oneself but Jesus explained this would not always be so, saying, "there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light".

Jesus is the source of the light that we are meant to share with the world. Of him each person is meant to say, he is "lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (see Psalm 119:105). We are intended to be so filled with Jesus and his words that his light shines from us too, in our thoughts, in our words, and in our deeds. Jesus is God from God and light from light. And it is when he dwells in Christians that we can become a light to the world. It is when she is filled with such Christians that the Church fulfills her vocation to be a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden.

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.

Jesus himself is the most essential element in the life of every Christian. When his grace dwells in us we may hope to grow in holiness, moving from glory to glory (see Second Corinthians 3:18). But when we lose our connection to Jesus we are at risk of eventually losing everything else as well. For there is nothing apart from him that we can keep. Only by ordering everything to him and to his Kingdom does it take on meaning and lasting value. Apart from him we only seem to have anything. But it is ultimately an illusion that cannot last forever.

Newsboys - Shine