Come to Light

Jesus said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.”

He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.”

He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples. Mark 4:21-34 

I am one of those people that rejoices when February is over, and although it is the shortest month, it always seems the longest. This has been an especially long winter, for some reason, and I am ready for the earth to awake again to the longer days with more light. We do not intentionally invite winter and darkness, although they are necessary to the renewal of life. Yet, when the light returns, and the earth warms, we have much work to do and much to celebrate. Hiding our light is help to no one. Sharing the light, especially when folks are suffering and in need of hope, we are called to share the light of our faith now.

Jesus, is telling his disciples about faith by using parables. These were so that they would remember and be able to teach others who came after them. He gave us images that would be permanent in our minds and imaginations, so that we could share these same images with people who needed help understanding. We are invited by God today to use the stories we have inherited to shed light in darkness, to bring hope to the suffering, God's warmth and safety.

Today, I ask God to help me tell the story with great energy and insight. May we be carriers of the light, those who bring good news to broken places and who fearlessly testify to the love of God in our world today.