Monday, 25th Week in Ordinary Time
“He places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.”
There is a legend about a candle. One evening, a man carried a candle and began to climb a long winding staircase. The candle said to him, “Where are we going?” The man replied, “We are going up the lighthouse to light the way for the ships sailing in the deep sea.” The candle protested and said, “But I am a small candle and my light is so dim that the ships yonder will hardly notice me.” “Never mind,” said the man, “even if your light is so small and dim. Just keep burning, and leave the job to me.”
When they reached the top of the lighthouse, they came to a large lamp. He, then, took the little candle and lit the large lamp. Soon the polished reflectors behind the lamp beamed the light far across the sea, thus showing the safe way to the ships in the deep sea.
We are God’s light. Our job is to keep shining, and our effectiveness will lie in God’s hands. Jesus, in today’s gospel passage, emphasizes the need for the Christians to be a light for others. Let us note: Christ is the Light, and we are lights lit by him. St. Paul tells us, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. “Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness…” (Ephesians 5:8) As disciples, we are candles set up and lighted by the Lord.
Our lights must shine through our good works. People should not only hear about our good works, but also see them. They must not only benefit from them, but also get edified by them. Our job, as Christians, in the world is to eradicate evil and plant good wherever it is possible. Abraham Lincoln once said, “I wish to be remembered as a man who pulled out a weed and planted a flower wherever it was possible.”
The end of all good works must be for the praise of our heavenly Father. When people see our good works, they must praise the Father in heaven who had given such graces to people. And they must also be moved to an imitation of such works in their own lives, and thus continue his praises.
Parokya ni Osong 