In today’s first reading from the second Book of Samuel, we hear the response of King David to God’s promise that he would establish his kingdom forever. And his response is one of humility.
“Who am I, Lord God?
And who are the members of my house that you have brought me to this point?
Yet even this you see as too little.
Lord God, you have also spoken of the house of your servant for a long time to come.
This too you have shown to man, Lord God.”
So we see in David’s response — “Who am I, Lord God?” — humility. We see David recognizing that everything is a sheer gift of God. And then we see his faith, that David believes a promise will reach far beyond his lifetime in its fulfillment. And so it is, because that promise was fulfilled in Christ, the same Christ who in today’s Gospel, my brothers and sisters, says to the disciples, and by extension to all of us.
He asks this 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? 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.”
Now, what is one of the titles by which Christ is recognized? We call him the light of the world. And he came into the world not to remain hidden, as if under a bushel basket, but to give light to the world, because he is the light of the world — much more than the sun that lights our days. Christ lights our path to eternal Paradise.
My brothers and sisters, this is why 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.”
So, my brothers and sisters, when we try to give God our best, he actually uses us to build his kingdom, to do something amazing. So, like in the case of David, who wanted to build him a house, it’s not so much what we build for him, for God, but what he builds through us.
Jesus, who said to the apostles, “I have chosen you so that you may go out and bear fruit, fruit for the kingdom that will last.” And my brothers and sisters, we too are being called to be the light of the world, to bring his goodness, his truth, to others.
But we must first live that goodness and truth in our own lives. And we’re all a work in progress, so we try to make it something that is more consistent, more authentic, more faithful to his word with each passing day. But do not lose heart, because he’s given us much help, so that we too could be the light.
Many other lights have come and gone before us and are given to us to light our way as well, because they reflect the light of Christ. We call them the saints, chief of whom is our Blessed Mother.
And so our Blessed Mother is with us and shows us how to clean that lamp, how to make it shine — shine bright or brighter than its normal capacity. Sometimes that lamp can get buried beneath the dust unless we clean it. And so too our soul, which is meant to bear light into the world, can get buried with the dust and the dirt of sin.
And our Blessed Mother wants to help us — to bring us to Christ, to bring us to repentance, to walk with us to the confessional, so that we can receive healing, that the Lord can heal us in the confessional. And then, and only then, will the light of God truly shine through us.
Through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother Mary, may Almighty God bless you this day.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
God bless you.
Add comment
Comments