Lights on Lampstands

“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.” (Lk 8:16)

Today we have an opportunity to reflect on one of the most accessible images in the entire gospel. The word Light appears almost 100 times in the New Testament. Not only are we encouraged to light a lamp and put it someplace so that others can see, the gospel also calls Jesus the light of the world and reminds us that John the Baptist was the light who prepared the world for Jesus' coming. 

Electricity has become so natural and so accessible to life as we know it that we often take it for granted. Recently, after Hurricane Irene swept through the Northeast of the United States, millions of people were left without electricity. However, almost everyone with whom I spoke simply said we have no light. Living without light was not only difficult, for some it was dangerous.  Not having light, especially at night, made life for the elderly and disabled dangerous. Not able to see where they were going or get out of their homes easily, they felt frightened and trapped. 

When Jesus tells his contemporaries to light a light and put in on a lampstand so that people can see, all of us who were without light for a few days knew exactly what he meant. In our friary we were fortunate to have a small generator which allowed us to run one refrigerator off a power strip, and one light which we put in the middle of the dining room table.  That one light changed everything.  Though we had no electricity in our rooms, we did have the ability to gather in the evening, share a meal and then move the light to our living room and enjoy one anothers company. For those few days we understood the gospel command to light a lamp and put it on a lampstand much better.

In Jesus time, oil was used in lamps and it was expensive. The poor especially understood Jesus’ advice to use the little oil they had wisely.  Put the oil lamp someplace where it would make it possible for everyone to see, otherwise too many people would be living in darkness. Of course, Jesus is talking about more than physical light. The gospel wants us to be light for one another, not so much to instruct others or tell them what to do or think, but to help them see the light within themselves and become light for others. When we let the light of our faith shine, especially in acts of charity and justice, we make it possible for people to know the Christ who lives within and among us.

Today, take a moment to thank God for all those who have been light for you, especially when the dark threatened to overwhelm you.