Lucerna | The light

No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. - Luke 11:33

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These verses teach us the importance of taking care of what we allow inside us, because from the abundance of what is in it, it will undoubtedly bubble to the surface and be reflected to others. As the Scripture says, from within us flow rivers of living water (John 7:38) or that from the abundance of the treasure of our heart is what we share with others (Luke 6:45). It is also said that from our deepest being is from which springs of life flow (Prov 4:23). Therefore, we must take care of our inner being with great diligence.

We have learned that what we have, we give to others. It is inevitable, the exterior will always be a clear reflection of our interior. If we do not cultivate our interior with the blessed Word of God, with meditation and prayer, or edifying actions, we will not be able to reflect the essence of a good Christian. Nor will we be able to give a word of encouragement or reach out a hand to those in need. We have been called to be light and salt of this world. One of the doors to our soul is the eye. Let's take care of what we see. Let us seek to take care of what we give entry to our mind, soul and heart so that our light is not dimmed. Also, so that we can keep our interior clean, pure and healthy and our Beloved can come to find a fruit that is sweet and pleasant to his palate.

Holy Spirit come and live in our hearts. Purify us from what does not please you, cleanse us with the water of your Word. Remove all darkness, bad thoughts, slander, root of bitterness, pain or even human thoughts that prevent us from listening to your sweet voice. Let us be that lamp that illuminates the walk of others. Let us be a reflection of your love to others at all times and that we can show the character of Christ through our actions. Amen!

Reflection on Luke 11:33-36 by Nydia Flores

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Nolite iudicare (Mt. 7:1)

All of us live in a somewhat judgmental society. If we fail in some way to meet society’s convention, people will directly point out our failures and it is also easier for us to look for others’ mistakes. ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged’. Jesus seems to be suggesting that when we judge others, we are leaving ourselves open to God’s judgment. Jesus may be implying that when we judge someone, we are doing something that only God can do. We simply do not have the insight into others to judge them fairly or justly. Also, our own perception of others is restricted because of our own failings. This seems to be the point of the humorous image uses of someone with a plank in their eye trying to take a splinter out of someone else’s eye. Because of all kinds of prejudices and failings in ourselves, we don’t see clearly enough to make a sound judgment of others. There is a line in the Jewish Scriptures, ‘the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart’. In John’s gospel, Jesus said, ‘He himself knew what was in everyone”. Jesus is considered unique in this regard. No one else knows what is in everyone. Our limited insight into others, arising partly out of our own failings, should make us slow to judge others. Saint Paul was true to the teaching of Jesus in this matter of judging others. He says in his first letter to the Corinthians, ‘Do not pronounce judgment, before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and disclose the purposes of the heart’. Only the Lord can disclose the purposes of the human heart; we can never get inside the heart of another. It is clear from the gospel reading that Jesus wants us to work on our own failings before focusing unreasonably on the failings of others. ‘Take the plank out of your own eye first’. There is enough there to be going on with, for most of us. We need to be in touch with our own humanity before we can comment on humanity on others, and, it is probably true to say that the more we know ourselves the less inclined we will be to judge or accuse others.

By Sr Mary, CM.