A reflection on Luke 8:16-18
Monday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
©️2021 Gloria M. Chang
The Parable of the Lamp reveals how an evangelist, ignited by Christ’s Spirit, shines God’s Light to illuminate the world.
“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.”
Luke 8:16
The Son-Kissed Evangelist in the Parable of the Lamp
Like a wick lit by fire, the person enflamed by Christ shines with the radiance of his Spirit. An evangelist—someone who has been touched by Jesus Christ (“Son-kissed”)—is a bearer of God’s light to the world.
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are known as the “Four Evangelists.” An evangelist is a “bringer of good news” (from eu- “good” + angellein “announce,” from angelos “messenger, angel.”
Soaked in the rain and sun of divine grace, the seed of the word broken in the soil of the evangelist takes root, grows, and organically unites him or her to Christ, the Word of God and Tree of Life. Sons and daughters of God bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). United to Christ who is “Light from Light” (Nicene Creed), children of God “are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). An evangelist radiates Christ’s Light to others.
An alternate version of today’s couplet reads:
As the sun pierces through clouds and mist,
God’s Light shines through the evangelist.
Eclipse of the Son
“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.”
Luke 8:17-18
Whoever has “ears to hear” and listens attentively will understand and perceive more. Hidden mysteries wrapped in parables will gradually come to light. But those who shut their ears and eyes to the light darken in degrees by eclipsing the Son.
May Christ, the Light of the world, shine upon the Lampstand of the Church through us, his brothers and sisters ignited by his Spirit.
As the sun pierces through clouds and mist,
The Spirit’s Light shines through the Son-kissed.
Traditional Chinese Translation
《燈的比喻》
如同陽光穿透雲層和薄霧，
聖靈之光也會通過聖子親吻的傳道者來閃耀。
Dear GMC, Thank you for your reflection. It helps us leave indifference behind and gives us the courage to have our light shine to all we meet in the world. It helps us hear and listen and speak with joy. It helps us answer WWJD for ourselves and others in creative and thought-provoking ways. Appealing especially to the younger generations. Thank you, GMC!
Light dispels darkness,
Put a lamp on a table.
Your path will be clear,
You’ll step with lightness.
May my heart be one that receives.
Lord, dispel darkness that deceives.
Amen!