30 January 2014 Mk 4:21-25 TODAY’S GOOD NEWS Jesus said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’ And he said to them, ‘Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. ’ All living things are stored sunlight. The earth has no light of its own; all its light comes from the sun. If the earth tried to make it on its own, it would just be a cold barren rock. It is not surprising that light is the universal symbol for God: the word ‘divine’ comes from a Sanskrit root meaning ‘to shine’. Jesus said: “I am the light of the world” (Jn 8:12). But he also said, “You are the light of the world” (Mt 5:14). Clearly, however, he did not mean that we are independent sources of light – any more than the earth could be independent of the sun for its light. The light in us is from him. “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Mt 5:16). In one of the most deeply moving passages in the New Testament, St Paul wrote: “It is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God shining in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that it may be clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us” (2 Cor 4:6-7). “Why does Jesus call us the light of the world?” asked Tertullian (3rd century); “why does he compare us to a city on a hill?” Then he answered his own question: “If you hide your lamp beneath a bushel, you will soon notice that you yourself will be in the dark. You will find others bumping into you. So what can you do to illumine the world? Let your faith produce good works. Be a reflection of God’s light.”
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 12:36:20 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015