GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 19TH SEPTEMBER 2016
MONDAY OF THE 25TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
1ST READING: Proverbs 3:27-34
PSALM: Psalm 15:2-5
GOSPEL: Luke 8:16-18
THEME: GO, LIGHT YOUR WORLD
“Let there be light” was the first “word of God” to the world (cf. Gen. 1:3). These words, uttered at the dawn of creation continue to resound in every generation.
Just as a little lighted candle in a dark room is powerful enough to chase darkness away, a spiritually-lighted person chases evil away. Light always makes a difference in dark situations.
In our Gospel text, Jesus addresses the crowd saying, “No one lights a lamp to cover it with a bowl or to put it under a bed. No, it is put on a lamp-stand so that people may see the light when they come in” (Lk. 8:16). In the parallel account of Matthew, this is immediately followed by “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Mt 5:16).
Faith in Christ illumines a person; it causes an inner transformation with an outward manifestation of good works. The First Reading offers us some practical ways to make our light shine, namely, doing good without undue delay when the opportunity offers itself, avoiding uncalled-for quarrels and harm to one’s neighbour, as well as shunning envy (cf. Prov. 3:27ff).
There is no doubt, there are different forms of darkness (evil) in the worlds of different people. However, in Christ, who is the light of the world, we have what it takes to chase away that darkness. As Martin Luther King Jr. rightly puts it, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, may your word set me ablaze and make me a light for the world so that the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief may be dispelled. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).