The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that our personal holiness and life give light to our environment.
In the Reading from the Second Book of Samuel presents David’s Thanksgiving
p. [7:24–25] Ex 6:7; Dt 7:6; 26:17; 29:13. (2 Samuel, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 132 is a promise of favor to the Davidic dynasty and to Zion.
* [Psalm 132] A song for a liturgical ceremony in which the ark, the throne of Israel’s God, was carried in procession to the Temple. The singer asks that David’s care for the proper housing of the ark be regarded with favor (Ps 132:1–5), and tells how it was brought to Jerusalem (Ps 132:6–10). There follows God’s promise of favor to the Davidic dynasty (Ps 132:11–12) and to Zion (Ps 132:13–17). The transfer of the ark to the tent in Jerusalem is described in 2 Sm 6. (Psalms, PSALM 132 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus presents the Parable of the Lamp.
i. [4:25] Mt 13:12; Lk 19:26. (Mark, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)
Gladyce Janky shares that her mother taught her an important life lesson that, for her garden to thrive, it required tending. She explained, If we neglect them, the plants die, the soil becomes barren of the nourishment provided by water and fertilizer, and weeds invade the space.
With a little bit of time devoted to preparing the soil, such as a Consciousness Examen, exploring what is in most need of my tending at this time in my life, my garden will be ready to plant when we reach Ash Wednesday. During Lent, I can rely on Ignatian imaginative prayer to help me hear what my “soil”, my soul, most needs. Slowing down and seeking God in all things, through the Daily Examen, can be one way to help sprout the seeds He has planted, which are now ready to burst into my life.
Lovingly tending the little patch God has given me - friends, family, communities, and myself means keeping God at the center. That way, I am more likely to notice God’s overflowing, abundant measure of love and compassion and remain open to receive even more of His measure of faith to share with His world. (Janky, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Called to shine in the midst of darkness,” by Tertullian, 160-225 A.D.
"Why does the Lord call us the light of the world? Why has he compared us to a city on a hill (Matthew 5:14)? Are we not called to shine in the midst of darkness, and stand up high for those most sunk down? If you hide your lamp beneath a bushel (Matthew 5:15; Luke 8:16, 11:33), you will soon notice that you yourself will be in the dark. You will find others bumping into you. So what can you do to illumine the world? Let your faith produce good works. Be a reflection of God's light. The good is not preoccupied with darkness. It rejoices in being seen (John 3:21). It exults over the very pointings which are made at it. Christian modesty not only wishes to be modest, but also it wishes to be beheld as what it actually is." (excerpt from ON THE APPAREL OF WOMEN 2.13) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Mark 4:21-25 comments that our calling as his followers is to shine with the light of his presence.
So if you want to be an authentic witness to Christ, the most important thing is to keep the light of Christ burning within you. Don’t let it grow dim! Stay connected to Jesus in prayer, in your worship at Mass, and in acts of love and generosity. It is the joy and the peace that you radiate—more than your words—that will lead people to the Lord.
Of course, don’t shy away from speaking when the opportunity arises. If a friend opens up and shares a serious problem with you, tell them you will pray for them—or offer to pray with them right then and there. If a coworker is struggling with someone in their life, share about a time when the Lord helped you through a difficult relationship. Share from your heart, and be confident that every effort will have an impact. Because the light of Christ is in you—and you are not trying to hide it under your bed!
“Lord, show me how I can shine your light today!” (Meditation on Mark 4:21-25, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that the continuation of the dialogue between Nathan and David God reveals God would give David a dynasty as a “house” for the Lord to the time of Jesus who is of the House of David. A Lamp is to be seen by all. They see by our example with is different. Francis of Assisi, when asked “when are we going to preach?” responded that “we already have when people see our works.” We give an example that others can follow. Friar Jude notes that when we are able to keep our hearts open, the size of our “chalice” increases to receive the love of God and share it with others.
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, recounts how Christians received the wisdom of Scripture through hearing it discussed in many different ways. The narrow, rational/literal/historical approach largely creates an antiquarian society that prefers to look backward instead of forward. In Father Richard’s experience, it creates transactional religion much more than transformational spirituality. It idealizes individual conformity and group belonging over love, service, or actual change of heart.
Actually, literalism was discredited from the beginning of the New Testament by the inclusion of four Gospel accounts of the same Jesus event, which differ in many ways. Which is the “inerrant” one? Jesus repeatedly chose to teach through story and parable, revealing what God was “like”:
The earlier centuries of Christianity were much closer to the trans-rational world of Jesus and his storytelling style of teaching (which does not lend itself to dogmatic or systematic theology). The Gospel says, “He would never speak to them except in parables” (Matthew 13:34). The indirect, metaphorical, symbolic language of a story or parable seems to be Jesus’s preferred way of teaching spiritual realities.
Almost all of Jesus’s parables begin with the same phrase: “The reign of God is like….” Jesus fully knows he is speaking in simile, metaphor, story, and symbol. But in recent centuries, many Christians have not granted him that freedom, and thus we miss or avoid many of his major messages. We are much poorer for it. (Rohr, n.d.)
We seek the guidance of the Spirit to let our light shine in Jesus' Way of love, acceptance and support of all people we encounter on our journey.
References
Janky, G. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved January 29, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-january-29-2026
Mark, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 29, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/4?21
Meditation on Mark 4:21-25. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved January 29, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/01/29/1489968/
Psalms, PSALM 132 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 29, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/132?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 29, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/more-than-one-meaning/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Living in the Light of God's Truth and Wisdom. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 29, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
2 Samuel, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 29, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2samuel/7?18
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