Twenty-Fifth Monday in Ordinary Time

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. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.

God gives us the gifts, talents, and graces that we have so that we can use them. He wants us to become lights to the world, not to hide ourselves away from it or to snuff out our lights with sins. Our every word and work should shine with the radiance of God's love and mercy so that all who see us know we are Christians. So too, we must shine in our private lives. Just because we are in our homes, does not give us the liberty to sin. What we do privately always has an effect on our relationships with God and others. The reason for us failing to do good is known to God. The misguided excuses we make in order to justify our inaction or our sins are known to God. If we would not speak or do something in the light of day where all could see, then we shouldn't speak or do it.

Are we concealing our light in inaction or sin? How can we shine so that all can see us? How can we live our lives in transparency, unhidden, and filled with the light of love?

O Lord, may our light shine before all.

Amen.