Third Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: 2 Sam 7:18-19, 24-29
After Nathan had spoken to King David, the king went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, Lord GOD, and who are the members of my house, that you have brought me to this point? Yet even this you see as too little, Lord GOD; you have also spoken of the house of your servant for a long time to come: this too you have shown to man, Lord GOD! “You have established for yourself your people Israel as yours forever, and you, LORD, have become their God. And now, LORD God, confirm for all time the prophecy you have made concerning your servant and his house, and do as you have promised. Your name will be forever great, when men say, ‘The LORD of hosts is God of Israel,’ and the house of your servant David stands firm before you. It is you, LORD of hosts, God of Israel, who said in a revelation to your servant, ‘I will build a house for you.’ Therefore, your servant now finds the courage to make this prayer to you. And now, Lord GOD, you are God and your words are truth; you have made this generous promise to your servant. Do, then, bless the house of your servant that it may be before you forever; for you, Lord GOD, have promised, and by your blessing the house of your servant shall be blessed forever.”
Gospel: Mk 4:21-25
Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
TAKE WHAT YOU HEAR: What we hear, largely contributes towards our actions. The imperative “take care” means “see to it; Act.” Therefore, hearing accompanies seeing. David is rewarded for he hears the Word of God. Jesus also hears the Will of God. He in turn wants us to hear the voice of God. In hearing we need to discern the Divine voices from the worldly ones. Jesus gives us an example of what we need to do with the worldly voices that proclaim defeat and despair. In Luke (5:36), he ignores news of the death of Jairus’ daughter. Let us follow the example of David, who after hearing God’s message through Nathan, goes to speak to God. When we hear the Word of God from the Bible, in our Small Christian Communities and in Mass, let us learn to reflect and pray, so that God can personally speak to us. Let us listen, hear and take care. This is the call to continuously turn to the Divine Word.
Prayer: Lord help us to be the Light of the world
*****
HEED THE ECHOES OF TRUTH: We are aware of the importance of telling the truth. However, at times it is not convenient to speak this very truth. At such moments, we may attempt to present a convenient truth, like the ostrich faced with the reality of the enemy. It is nevertheless true that a momentary deception equals a permanent concealment. We cannot banish truth from the sun-light forever. It is with this understanding that Jesus gives His word, “There is nothing hidden except to be made visible”. In life we are faced with challenges relating to “truth”. Let us always remember that the measure we employ for others is the measure that will be used for us. Like the player swinging on a trapeze who has to leave the one on which he is perched to hold on to the other end, we too have to make hard choices. Hard it is, but let us stand for truth and commit all our life to be the ambassadors of the truth of Jesus.
******
SHINE THE LIGHT: Jesus encourages us to share the good news of the Gospel at the same time warns what happens to the Christians who ignore their responsibility. As Christians, we are light bearers, allowing the light of Christ to shine through us into the darkness of this world, so that those who seek the light may see. Jesus says to “take heed what you hear.” We must be careful for everything we listen to affects us. There are many voices wanting our attention: bad friends, music, talk shows, politicians and false preachers. The Bible speaks of false words, flattering words, all leading us astray in what we think and what we believe. And if we’re to be light-bearers, we can’t be filled with wrong beliefs. A boy once visited a Cathedral. Upon returning, his Sunday school teacher asked him what he liked about the Cathedral to which he replied ‘The stained glass windows picturing the saints of the Bible’. The teacher asked the boy ‘What do you think a saint is? ‘He thought for a moment and said, ‘A saint is a person through whom the light shines bright.’ Does your life reflect Christ or is it hidden under a bushel?
DAILY GOSPEL 