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Gospel: Luke 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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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When the power goes out, everything is dark.
When you open the fridge, you can’t find the milk.
When you get out of bed in the middle of the night, you might run into a wall, stub your toe… or, worse, both!
When you walk outside, the streets are dark and eerily quiet.
We need light.
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For example, you need a 1000-watt bulb to light up a parking lot. A 100-watt bulb for a lamp. A 40-watt bulb for a fridge.
Different size bulbs are needed for different purposes, but each accomplishes the same task: casting out the darkness.
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In a similar way, God has given each of us a different role to play – in our families, in our parish, at work, and in the world. Some are given smaller responsibilities, while others are burdened with monumental tasks.
For example, one child sings in the choir on Sunday, while another person is the pope. Both must do their part. Both must shine. Otherwise, there’d be no music… and no shepherd!
As Jesus says in the Gospel today, “No one who lights a lamp conceals it. Rather, it’s placed on a lampstand.”
Each Christian must shine. It’s how we light up the world.
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What role has God given me to play? And how will I shine brightly for his glory today?
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Image credits: (1) AndyatFatih.blogspot.com (2) Unsplash (3) The Lightbulb Company