Monday in the 25th Week of Ordinary Time, September 19, 2022

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 lamp stand 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.”

St. Luke continues to present the Lord’s teaching in the Sermon on the Plain.

“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed.”  The “vessel” here would be one typically used to hold liquids.  With no openings, it would completely cover the light of the lamp and eventually the flame of the lamp would go out from lack of oxygen.  Thus, to cover the lamp in this way would both hide its light and extinguish it.  One might as well not light it in the first place.  To put the lit lamp under a bed would risk setting the bed on fire, which accomplishes the opposite effect of hiding it under a large bowl: the house would catch on fire and everyone around. would see it.  The Lord Jesus is saying that the grace a person receives from him should not be kept private — one who is baptized in the Faith and loves Jesus should not attempt to keep secret this fact, and hold off on charitable practices lest his faith be discovered.  At the same time, a person should not perform works simply in order to be seen so as to gain approval nor should a believer try to force our religion on another.  “Rather, he places it on a lamp stand so that those who enter may see the light.”  That is, a person should act in public life as a believer, performing good works, defending the Faith when necessary, and otherwise living openly as a follower of Jesus Christ.  

“For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.”  If this saying is to be connected with the above, we can understand the Lord as saying that even if a person attempts to hide his religion, eventually it will become known provided he perseveres in his private piety.  If it is to be understood apart from the above, the Lord is talking about our deepest thoughts or sins.  What does not come out in this lifetime will come out on the last day, at the Judgment.  

“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.”  The Lord here speaks of faith and perseverance.  In times of turmoil and persecution, those who do not practice their faith — especially those who do not pray every day — will lose what little faith they have.  They do not believe enough to hold fast to Christ as the Anchor that will pull them from the depths of this world up into the bright light of heaven.  But those who do have faith and nourish it with good works and prayers will harden under the pressure of suffering and will grow even further, with the help of God’s grace.