From the responsorial psalm: “He who walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue. The just one shall live on your holy mountain, O Lord.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 8:16-18)
Jesus said to the crowd: “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light. Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.”
Speaking to the crowd, Jesus uses the image of light to describe every good gift of God that shines through the darkness. Light reveals what is hidden in darkness, penetrating every dark nook and corner, illuminating it and bringing it into clarity. “Take care, then, how you hear,” Jesus says. What is it to take great care in how we are hearing? To the one who has the light of Christ, more will be given; from the ones in complete darkness, even what they seem to have will be taken from them. The light of God’s love—pure gift—is the only thing we get to keep as he guides us on our path to him.
God, help me be attentive today to you as the source of light and what it reveals. I want more of what cannot be taken away; remaining in you, help me be a source of light to others that points to you. Bring to light the opportunities and events of the day that lead to you and give me the grace to use them to give glory to you. As Padre Pio said: “Do you want great love from me, Jesus? I too desire this, just as a deer longs to reach a flowing stream, but as you see I have no more love to give! Give me some more and I’ll offer it to you!” Saint Pio, pray for us!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.