When We Know It Shows

Today’s gospel fell on me in a new way today, after all it is the first day of Fall. Once we have received the light of knowledge of the Word, the revelation of God’s presence in our hearts, the recognition that love is a verb, the living faith that the miraculous exposes, the workings of the Holy Spirit, the call to holiness, the sound of His voice, the prompting of His Spirit, the need for mercy, the desire to serve others, and/or the treasure of great price, then we cannot hide it. It will be seen. Have you ever tried to hide light? It is the one thing that cannot really hide. God radiates us with these gifts of grace and revelation. As we receive them they charge the light within us so that it spills out unable to hide. 

This light radiates as a special something, or a joyful twinkle in the eye, or the strong resolve to reach out to the poor, or the compassion to hold the broken hearted, or the bold faith to pray for the sick, or acts of kindness toward the unlovable, or peace that surpasses understanding, or patient waiting for God’s timing and will, or the ability to find God in all things, or the gift of living in the present moment, and all the things that show that we know and belong to our Good Good Father. Once we know, we know, and when we know it shows. We can try to hide it and sometimes I know for sure that I try to hide it because it requires me to do the right thing, which is often the hard thing, or to reach out to those on the edges, which is scary at times, or to constantly be shiny, which can be exhausting. However, once we know, we know, and when we know it shows, so I can try to hide it all I want, but it still breaks forth, spills out, radiates, warms, and reveals His presence in my life, and thank God it does. Sometimes the light is little and sometimes the light is big and bold, but it always pierces the dark. 

Today I pray that we stop trying to hide the light of love that has been lavishly given to us. I pray that we will let this revelation light shine for all to experience. It says that nothing will be hidden from us, which means that God reveals everything we need in His Son Jesus. The hiddenness and secrets mentioned in this gospel are not our dirty laundry or the exposure of all our deepest darkest sins, but the revelation of God’s grace, mercy, companionship, love, favor, and presence in our lives. That exposure of God’s goodness covers our darkness with light and not the other way around. When we take care to hear Him, we are given the tremendous privilege to be beacons of what we know. Beacons point others toward the right way. Once we know, we know, and when we know it shows. It is well with my soul. 

Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest
Lectionary: 449

Reading 1 EZR 1:1-6

In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia,
in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah,
the LORD inspired King Cyrus of Persia
to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom,
both by word of mouth and in writing:
"Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia:
'All the kingdoms of the earth
the LORD, the God of heaven, has given to me,
and he has also charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem,
which is in Judah.
Therefore, whoever among you belongs to any part of his people,
let him go up, and may his God be with him!
Let everyone who has survived, in whatever place he may have dwelt,
be assisted by the people of that place
with silver, gold, goods, and cattle,
together with free-will offerings
for the house of God in Jerusalem.'"

Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin
and the priests and Levites–
everyone, that is, whom God had inspired to do so– 
prepared to go up to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem.
All their neighbors gave them help in every way,
with silver, gold, goods, and cattle,
and with many precious gifts
besides all their free-will offerings.

Responsorial Psalm PS 126:1B-2AB, 2CD-3, 4-5, 6

R.(3) The Lord has done marvels for us.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R.The Lord has done marvels for us.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R.The Lord has done marvels for us.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R.The Lord has done marvels for us.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R.The Lord has done marvels for us.

AlleluiaMT 5:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 8:16-18

Jesus said to the crowd:
“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel
or sets it under a bed;
rather, he places it on a lampstand
so that those who enter may see the light.
For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible,
and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.
Take care, then, how you hear.
To anyone who has, more will be given,
and from the one who has not,
even what he seems to have will be taken away.”