Friends,
today’s Gospel is the parable of the lamp, which, placed on a
lampstand, gives light to all. Light obviously isn’t for itself. Rather,
we see things by it. It illuminates things upon which it shines.
We
are light by which people around us come to see what is worth seeing.
By the very quality and integrity of our lives, we shed light,
illumining what is beautiful and revealing what is ugly. The clear
implication is that without vibrant Christians the world is a much worse
place. Let me illustrate this principle with an example. One of the
most painful truths of the last century is that the weakness of
Christian witness allows some of the worst elements in society to
flourish.
Think
of the rise of the evil powers that created World War II. Christianity
had become so weak, so uncompelling, so attenuated that great evil was
allowed to flourish. Yes, indeed there were a handful of powerful
Christian resisters, but let’s
face it: the overwhelmingly vast majority of Christians either supported
Hitler or remained in silence, out of either fear or indifference.
Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 449
Refuse no one the good on which he has a claim
when it is in your power to do it for him.
Say not to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give,” when you can give at once.
Plot no evil against your neighbor,
against one who lives at peace with you.
Quarrel not with a man without cause,
with one who has done you no harm.
Envy not the lawless man
and choose none of his ways:
To the LORD the perverse one is an abomination,
but with the upright is his friendship.
The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
but the dwelling of the just he blesses;
When dealing with the arrogant, he is stern,
but to the humble he shows kindness.
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."
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