“No one lights a lamp and covers it with a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on the lamp-stand,..." (Lk 8:16)

“No one lights a lamp and covers it with a bowl or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on the lamp-stand, so that people will see the light as they come in.” (Lk 8:16)

Today’s Passage: Lk 8:16-18

Meditation: As we read today’s verse we get the impression that it is a universal fact that everyone lights the lamp and puts it on a lamp-stand. Of course, it has to be so; otherwise people will say what a foolish fellow he is! What is the use of the lamb then? Nevertheless, I do have some doubts about it. We say that it is universally an accepted fact that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west; at the same we know that there is neither sun rise nor sunset. Why am I thinking in this way? When we see the people and their talents and the way they live without making use of them, we are also but forced to think like that. Though the lamp has to be put on the lamp-stand, many a time we find it either covered by a bushel or put under abed. There can be several reasons for that like lack of encouragement, support, acceptance, resources, and so on. Some even think that they were not planted in proper land. “I had studied all these but after my marriage I was not in a position to…” some ladies murmur. There are even some who will say, “I had completed my PG, but the circumstances in the house compelled me to become a driver.” Some circumstances of life make our lamp put under the bed. But, is that the only way this verse makes us think and meditate? Is it only about our PG and other academic qualifications? Certainly, it should not be! Man is the crown of creation. The Psalmist says, “What are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.” When God closes one door, makes the other door open. Therefore, it is our duty and mission to make ourselves present on the lamp-stand always. The word of God says, “Your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.” (Mt 5:16) I could have done more things in such an efficient way if I had been given such and such things. But Mother Theresa says, “In this life we cannot do always great things, but we can do small things with great love.” 

                                      

 Prayer:    Lord God, we thank you and praise you for your daily eternal bread. Thank you for all the graces you are showering upon us both material and spiritual. Help us to make use of all our talents for the good of others in every way possible. It is through our good words and deeds that you are well proclaimed than our words. Mary, mother of God, you who got ready and hurried off to help your relative, guide us also to be ready always to help our brethren. Amen! 

          

Greetings:       Take courage! God is with you! Have a nice and blissful Monday…