A view from above

Let your light shine

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 8, 16-18)

Jesus said to the crowd: “No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.” This is the word of the Lord.

“Why do persons light a lamp? Why do we switch on the lights?” This is a question nobody is asking Jesus, however Luke reports him saying that one lights a lamp and puts it on a lampstand “so that those who enter the (house) may see the light”. Matthew’s rendering of Christ’s words is slightly different in that he states that one lights a lamp and “it gives light to all in the house” (Mt 5, 15). Let us remember that Luke is addressing former gentiles who are entering the Church, while Matthew is writing to Jews the Chosen People of God. For Luke, light is a sign of welcome; for Matthew it is a sign of deeper learning. For both Matthew and Luke, and for Jesus the fundamental message is that light is to be shared with those in the house and those who are outside in the dark.

Listen here

"How is your heart, today? "

Pope Francis suggested that we should ask God for the grace of “the wisdom to make peace, in the little things of each day, but aiming at the horizons of the whole of humanity,” especially today, in which “we are living a war and all are seeking peace.” And in the meantime, he said, it would be good to start with this question:

“How is your heart, today? Is it at peace? If it is not at peace, before speaking of peace, make sure your own heart is at peace. How is your family, today? Is it at peace? If you are not able to bring peace to your family, your rectory, your congregation, bringing it more peace, then words of peace for the world are not enough. This is the question that I would like to ask today: How is the heart of each one of us? Is it at peace? How is the family of each one of us? Is it at peace? That’s how it is, isn’t it? To achieve peace in the world.”

(Mass at the Casa Santa Marta - 08.09.2016)