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Jesus_Christ
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**Scripture: **Mark 4:21-25
21 And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a bushel, or under a bed, and not on a stand? 22 For there is nothing hid, except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. 23 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 And he said to them, “Take heed what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. 25 For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
Meditation:
"You have lighted me and now you gaze into my flame. You enjoy the warmth and brightness that spread. I’m happy to be useful and to burn for your pleasure. Otherwise, I would just be lying idle in some box on a shelf. I only have a meaning, a fulfillment, while I am burning, although I know very well that the longer I burn, the shorter I become and the nearer I get to the end of my life. And when it is all over, I know that you will say, ‘The candle is burnt out.’
"I know I have a choice of staying in a box and remaining unseen, untouched, and useless. Or I can burn myself out by giving light and warmth - and hasten my own death by doing so. But I find that giving is more beautiful and meaningful.
We humans are like that candle. Either we keep boxed up and remain cold and empty, or we mix with people and share our warmth and love, and then give our lives a meaning.
As the Baroness de Hueck once put it:
"A bell is no bell till you ring it…
A song is no song till you sing it…
The love in your heart was not put there to stay:
Love is not love till you give it away."
On the other hand, Jesus used the image of a lamp to describe how his disciples are to live in the light of his truth and love. Just as natural light illumines the darkness and enables one to see visually, so the light of Christ shines in the hearts of believers and enables us to see the heavenly reality of God’s kingdom. In fact, our mission is to be light-bearers of Christ so that others may see the truth of the gospel and be freed from the blindness of sin and deception. Jesus remarks that nothing can remain hidden or secret. We can try to hide things from others, from ourselves, and from God. How tempting to shut our eyes from the consequences of our sinful ways and bad habits, even when we know what those consequences are.
Prayer:
*“Lord, you guide me by the light of your saving truth. Fill my heart and mind with your light and truth and free me from the blindness of sin and deception that I may see your ways clearly and understand your will for my life. May I radiate your light and truth to others in word and deed. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.” *
21 And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a bushel, or under a bed, and not on a stand? 22 For there is nothing hid, except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. 23 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear.” 24 And he said to them, “Take heed what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. 25 For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
Meditation:
"You have lighted me and now you gaze into my flame. You enjoy the warmth and brightness that spread. I’m happy to be useful and to burn for your pleasure. Otherwise, I would just be lying idle in some box on a shelf. I only have a meaning, a fulfillment, while I am burning, although I know very well that the longer I burn, the shorter I become and the nearer I get to the end of my life. And when it is all over, I know that you will say, ‘The candle is burnt out.’
"I know I have a choice of staying in a box and remaining unseen, untouched, and useless. Or I can burn myself out by giving light and warmth - and hasten my own death by doing so. But I find that giving is more beautiful and meaningful.
We humans are like that candle. Either we keep boxed up and remain cold and empty, or we mix with people and share our warmth and love, and then give our lives a meaning.
As the Baroness de Hueck once put it:
"A bell is no bell till you ring it…
A song is no song till you sing it…
The love in your heart was not put there to stay:
Love is not love till you give it away."
On the other hand, Jesus used the image of a lamp to describe how his disciples are to live in the light of his truth and love. Just as natural light illumines the darkness and enables one to see visually, so the light of Christ shines in the hearts of believers and enables us to see the heavenly reality of God’s kingdom. In fact, our mission is to be light-bearers of Christ so that others may see the truth of the gospel and be freed from the blindness of sin and deception. Jesus remarks that nothing can remain hidden or secret. We can try to hide things from others, from ourselves, and from God. How tempting to shut our eyes from the consequences of our sinful ways and bad habits, even when we know what those consequences are.
Prayer:
*“Lord, you guide me by the light of your saving truth. Fill my heart and mind with your light and truth and free me from the blindness of sin and deception that I may see your ways clearly and understand your will for my life. May I radiate your light and truth to others in word and deed. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen.” *