Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor of the Church
“Is a lamp to be placed in a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand?” asks Jesus in today’s gospel passage from Mark (Mk. 4:21). The answer to this is quite obvious; a light is not made to be hidden or secret. One way of interpreting this passage is in relation to our lives as Christians. We are not called to live our Christianity in secret, consigning it to the private areas of our lives. Rather, we are called to witness to God’s love in each action of our lives, bearing testimony to the multitude of blessings God has given us.
It is in this way that we become a lamp on a lampstand – the proper place where we can shine light to those around us. This theme is reflected in the first reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews. The end of this passage emphasizes that the Church must work together “to rouse one another to love and good works” (Heb. 10:24). Again, we are not called to remain private individuals who practice our faith in secret, but rather “to encourage one another” (Heb. 10:25). This one phrase could serve of a description of Church: Church consists of people who encourage one another in the faith. We are meant to be people whose lives are like lights placed on a lampstand, enabling others to see the embodiment of Christianity, that is, to see reflections of Christ himself in our own way of life.
Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus the Christ, we have been, are being, and will be saved. We cannot downplay the importance of this in our lives as Christians. We can encourage one another because God has encouraged us by loving us so much that he sent his only Son Jesus to earth. We are able to be shining lamps because Jesus himself is the light and shares that light with us. We see in today’s saint, St. Angela Merici, exactly this desire to encourage others in the faith. Living in the 16th century, St. Angela was dismayed at the lack of education, especially religious, for young girls. So she took it upon herself to make a school in which she could teach girls in need of education. Eventually St. Angela also formed a group of women that became known as the Urusline order.
Today, let us look to St. Angela Merici as a model, thanking God for the light he gives us in Christ Jesus by becoming a light to others, as was she. Take some time today to reflect on how you might better encourage others. We pray that we might be the kind of people who rouse others to love and good works.
- Maria Morrow