(Listen to this homily here).
This morning Jesus asks a rhetorical question: “Is a lamp brought in to be placed
under a bushel basket or under a bed, and
not to be placed on a lampstand?”
I
want to point out the obvious—there was no electricity in Jesus’ time. Thus, when the sun went down it was
dark. To provide light to a home
someone needed to take a clay lamp, fill it with oil and light the wick. Today, we often appreciate electrical
lighting when the power goes out or we are out camping. On more than one occasion, I forgot a
headlamp while hunting or camping.
Good thing Dad was around with his dozen extras!
Think
of how ridiculous the scene is that Jesus set. Someone had taken the time and energy to light a lamp—only to
hide the light?
What
Jesus is saying is that in our walk with God, we cannot keep our faith to
ourself. We live in the darkness
and we must keep our light shining brightly. Plus, this light is not only for our own benefit. When I am in the BWCA without a
headlamp, it is a sort of obligation for my Dad to share his light. Otherwise I could fall and crack my
skull. (Yes, I should have
prepared ahead of time!) We have
an obligation to share our light of faith to the world.
May
we let our light of faith shine brightly today so as to allow Jesus Christ, the
light of the world, to burn brightly.
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