Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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 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.
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.”
Showing who we really are
1. Lamp. I’d like to invite you to look deeply into your heart to see who you really are, to make sure that you haven’t lost your own essence and your own life story looking only for material things to be or to do. Something else that can also trouble your heart is envy. When people are envious of you, it’s not what you have that bothers them, but that they don’t have it. Fame, money, a career or simply that you are doing well doesn’t make true friends envious, but in those who keep criticizing and gossiping it’s a sign that they’re lacking something. Be transparent in your life, be a lamp and live the day without paying attention to those who criticize you. Remember, your light can shine when there is transparency in your heart. Knowing you have nothing to hide brings harmony and peace.
2. May see the light. Love is the light that illuminates your life and mine. Not that I am getting romantic, but it’s a Christian reality. A thinker once said, “love can keep the sick alive and make the healthy look sick”. Let’s go a little more deeply. When you’re sure and clear about who you are and where your life is heading or at least where you want to take it, and if you work for God you won’t have enough time to worry about what anyone else might be doing or saying about you. There’s so much need that there’s no time to see what other people are doing wrong. But this stems from the certainty of “who am I for the Lord”. Take advantage of the time of solitude you have to strengthen your spirituality. Lately, after 9 pm, I try to relax and be alone, without any devices, no cell phone or TV, to strengthen my dialogue with God before going to bed. I try to enjoy that time alone. I’ve understood that God wants to heal and raise every single person. Manage your alone time to remember that you’re light and that your self-esteem should come from the love that God has for you.
3. Darkness. Something that can complicate your life is to feel insignificant and empty. That’s when you feel darkness, because some people sense when you are down and feel worthless and take advantage of that occasion to use you. In these years I’ve learned that when you don’t value yourself, you attract people who accentuate your devalued image. No one will give you more respect than you yourself. No one will value you if you don’t value yourself. There are people who take advantage of the fact that you feel worthless and degrade you for their own benefit. Don’t let anyone drag you into darkness and remember again how valuable you are to God. I’d like to share with you the three axes that take you out of the darkness, as taught so well by the wise and by Jesus:
Know yourself, for no one can love what they don’t know. Allowing others to know you before you do is very dangerous and can destroy you. Remember that knowing gives you power.
You must know God, because if you don’t know God everything falls apart. Remember that your relationship with God is not static, it changes in the course of your life. Knowing God doesn’t mean to be a rule-abiding person.
Knowing others. Before you open your life to someone who will become your life partner, before opening the door to someone you must know him or her. Remember that to grow old is to change priorities and the greatest wisdom is to know that you will take secrets to your grave, so tell few people the important things of your life.
Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
