The Christian Is The Light That Shines
Introduction
With the proclamation of Cyrus, king of Persia, who freed the exiles, the Jews could return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple, sign of God’s presence, and to become the community of God’s people. Thus they themselves would be a living temple given the task of bearing witness to the God of Israel. Remember, Cyrus was a pagan king. But he got a message from God and obeyed his word. Imagine you and me?
Christ speaks of the word of God as a light that cannot remain hidden; it should shine in the lives of those who believe in the gospel, so that they can bear witness to Christ and his message.
1 Reading: Ezra 1:1-6
In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD inspired King Cyrus of Persia to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom, both by word of mouth and in writing: “Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia: ‘All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD, the God of heaven, has given to me, and he has also charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Therefore, whoever among you belongs to any part of his people, let him go up, and may his God be with him! Let everyone who has survived, in whatever place he may have dwelt, be assisted by the people of that place with silver, gold, goods, and cattle, together with free-will offerings for the house of God in Jerusalem.'” Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and Levites– everyone, that is, whom God had inspired to do so– prepared to go up to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem. All their neighbours gave them help in every way, with silver, gold, goods, and cattle, and with many precious gifts besides all their free-will offerings.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 126:1b-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6
R. (3) The Lord has done marvels for us.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing. R.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed. R.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing. R.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves. R.
Alleluia: Matthew 5:16
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
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.”
Commentary
The postexilic personalities Ezra and Nehemiah were responsible for the religious and political restoration of Judah. It was the Persian (today’s Iran) king Cyrus who had mandated the return of the Jews to their homeland and the rebuilding of the temple. It was a moment of true elation for the Jews, who had suffered so much at the hands of pagan rulers. Cyrus’s decree provided for the return of the Jews and encouraged the people among whom they had lived to assist them with provisions for their return. It was a moment of great hope for a people who had too long lived in a foreign land, separated from the dwelling place of their God and deprived of the worship that was Yahweh’s due.
It was because of their own conduct, not the design of God, that the Jews had been punished with spiritual deprivation. It is clear from the Old Testament teaching that their religious dedication was to serve as a magnet for the nations of the earth.
Jesus in the Gospel directs his followers to be shining lights that others (especially the Gentiles of Luke’s thought) may be moved to embrace the gospel. Christianity is not an esoteric religion destined only for the enlightened. Rather it is destined for all people, and its authenticity is to be seen in the faith of its adherents. If one shares the truth generously, one’s faith will be increased. But if one is miserly about the faith he has, the loss will embrace even the little that he has.
The truth of our belief is to shine forth in our lives. St. Francis sent his followers to preach the gospel “with words, [ONLY] if necessary.” If we are truly enraptured by the person of Jesus, such light will inevitably appear in our lives. May the joy that is ours because of what God has done for us shine before others. It is the person of Jesus who comes to life in us. And that remains our greatest form of witness. Thus, the Christian is not like light. No! He is light, and there is no hiding. He must shine!
Blessing
To bear witness consists in calling attention not to ourselves but to God and what he can do in us, poor instruments. We can only propose what we believe and live and then leave the rest to God’s grace. May God give you this attitude and bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!