Shine Brightly

Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” (Mark 4:21-25)

Mark provides Jesus’ good advice and powerful images.  We are all lights – Christ’s light, and we are supposed to shine where people can see us.  We are not to hide our faith or shy away from displaying our faith based on Jesus’ beatitudes and his commandments.

Any burning lamp hidden under a basket will deprive itself of oxygen and will go out – be extinguished.   Opponents to religion in general and to Catholicism, in particular, might like under-basket hiding by the timid and afraid.

Mark’s last line is prophetic: “To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”  We Christ-the-King Catholics use our strengths shown by word and deed to encourage others to follow Christ, and many do; i.e., we who have, receive more.  

But when we lose our enthusiasm and become armchair Catholics concerned more about ourselves than others in a way we “have not.”   The result: even what we have will be taken away; i.e., those who follow us may step aside and go down another path – one of discouragement and disillusionment.

So, let’s shine brightly!   To do otherwise, is to fall into darkness and perhaps despair.  We who have ears, must hear.

Deacon David Pierce