Today’s Gospel reminds us to be open with our faith. Jesus said that no one lights a lamp and conceals it with a vessel or puts it under a bed. Putting a lamp under a bed is not the safest thing for us to do because the heat from the bulb might start a fire. When you realize that electricity didn’t exist when Jesus was teaching this lesson, it meant the lamp was an oil lamp with an open flame and the lit lamp under a bed is extremely dangerous.
Jesus frequently used the ridiculous to make a point. The people of that time were farmers and shepherds. When Jesus told the parable of the shepherd who left 99 sheep to fend for themselves while he searched for one who was lost, the people wondered what he was thinking. No one in their right mind would leave 99 sheep alone in the wild to fend for themselves. Sheep are prone to wandering and wild animals would attack such an easy prey out in the field without any protection. Jesus was making the point that God loves us so much that he will go to extremes to save us.
The same is true for lighting a lamp and hiding it. Oil was expensive so one would not waste it by covering the lamp with a vessel; let alone put it under a bed where it could start a fire and possibly burn the house down. Jesus is telling us that our faith must be visible for all to see. All things, the good and the bad will become visible in due time.
Jesus is teaching us an important message in this short Gospel. We are called to be a witness to the world around us. We must live our lives in such a way that people will know that we are Christians. Be a light to the world, be a shining example of love and peace to everyone we meet.
Some people are too concerned with how others will perceive them, and whether people will accept and like them, or avoid them. Jesus tells us not to hide our faith from those all around us. Even if we try to hide our faith, it will eventually become known. Jesus said that nothing will be kept secret, and when that happens, the response is usually negative.
Do we try to conceal our faith? Maybe we bow our head to pray over a meal when we are out in public places but not make the sign of the cross because that would identify us as Catholic. Maybe we skip mass when we are traveling with friends, so they will think that we fit in with group.
We must place our lamp, in other words, our life, on a lamp stand so that all will know that we are Catholic, that we are followers of Jesus. Our light will proclaim to all that we attend mass regularly, and all will know that we defend the person who is being belittled or bullied, all will know that we are Pro-Life from conception to natural death.
We must ask ourselves, “Is my light up on a lamp stand shining brightly for all to see?” Or am I hiding it under a vessel to be accepted by others?
