Bible Reflections I 20.09.2021 - Monday I Indraya Manna

Ordinary Time - Week 25

Readings 

          I - Ezra 1: 1 - 6

        II - Lk. 8: 16 - 18

                  

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

The three verses of the Gospel passage today carries three lessons for life: an exhortation, a caution and a condition.  

An exhortation: Each of us are bestowed with varied gifts and talents not for personal purpose but to colour the world with our charism and thereby glorify the creator.  “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your  faith;  if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;   if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,  do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully” (Rom. 12: 6-8).  In the letter of St. Peter we read, “As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve others” (1 Pt. 4:10).  Therefore Jesus exhorts us to lift our lights high to lift the world to its original order.

A caution:  Jesus in today’s Gospel passage says that nothing will be hidden and that everything will be disclosed.  One cannot dwell in duplicate living, for one day the mask of duplicity will be torn and the real self will be revealed.  Let us beware of conducting a double standard living for, “whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops” (Lk. 13:3)   

A condition: In the parable of the talent (Mt. 25: 14-30) we read that the servant who kept his one talent idle had to forego for having not utilised the same.  If we fail to utilise the gifts of God that had been showered on us will automatically be lost. Failing to use God’s gifts to serve each other is failing to be a good steward.  The condition here is to work to more with what we have in order to have our gifts and talents multiplied.