Monday, September 22, 2014



Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(Proverbs 3:27-34; Luke 8:16-18)

The sign near the prison chapel read, “Prayer is talking to God; meditation is listening to him.”  But prisoners are not the only ones who need reminding that communication with God is a two-way street.  Many think of God only when in need of assistance.  They forget that God has expectations of them.  In today’s gospel Jesus makes this point.

When Jesus says that no one lights a lamp to place it under a bed, he means that he does not enlighten his hearers just for their own sake.  Rather, he intends that his disciples put his message into practice.  They are to love God and neighbor.

The Book of Proverbs provides helpful guidelines to carry out this commission of love.  We are not to put off doing good.  Rather, when a neighbor is in need, we are to help her.  Perhaps she needs to share some grief.  Even the busiest among us might stop five minutes to give her complete attention.  Such a gesture stands out as a bright lamp on the gospel lampstand.