Our Holy Light

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that our personal holiness and life give light to our environment.

The Light of our Care

In the Reading from the Second Book of Samuel presents David’s Thanksgiving

o. [7:23] Dt 4:7, 34.

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.

e. [4:21–25] Lk 8:16–18.

f. [4:21] Mt 5:15; Lk 11:33.

g. [4:22] Mt 10:26; Lk 12:2.

h. [4:24] Mt 7:2; Lk 6:38.

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 

Persevere in Practice

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to persevere in accepting our mission to let our light of love, mercy, and compassion be shown in our actions.

Persevere in the Light

The reading from the Letter to the Hebrews is a Call to Persevere.

* [10:19–39] Practical consequences from these reflections on the priesthood and the sacrifice of Christ should make it clear that Christians may now have direct and confident access to God through the person of Jesus (Heb 10:19–20), who rules God’s house as high priest (Heb 10:21). They should approach God with sincerity and faith, in the knowledge that through baptism their sins have been remitted (Heb 10:22), reminding themselves of the hope they expressed in Christ at that event (Heb 10:23). They are to encourage one another to Christian love and activity (Heb 10:24), not refusing, no matter what the reason, to participate in the community’s assembly, especially in view of the parousia (Heb 10:25; cf. 1 Thes 4:13–18). If refusal to participate in the assembly indicates rejection of Christ, no sacrifice exists to obtain forgiveness for so great a sin (Heb 10:26); only the dreadful judgment of God remains (Heb 10:27). For if violation of the Mosaic law could be punished by death, how much worse will be the punishment of those who have turned their backs on Christ by despising his sacrifice and disregarding the gifts of the holy Spirit (Heb 10:28–29). Judgment belongs to the Lord, and he enacts it by his living presence (Heb 10:30–31). There was a time when the spirit of their community caused them to welcome and share their sufferings (Heb 10:32–34). To revitalize that spirit is to share in the courage of the Old Testament prophets (cf. Is 26:20; Heb 2:3–4), the kind of courage that must distinguish the faith of the Christian (Heb 10:35–39).

* [10:20] Through the veil, that is, his flesh: the term flesh is used pejoratively. As the temple veil kept people from entering the Holy of Holies (it was rent at Christ’s death, Mk 15:38), so the flesh of Jesus constituted an obstacle to approaching God.

* [10:21] The house of God: this refers back to Heb 3:6, “we are his house.”

* [10:22] With our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience: as in Heb 9:13 (see note there), the sprinkling motif refers to the Mosaic rite of cleansing from ritual impurity. This could produce only an external purification, whereas sprinkling with the blood of Christ (Heb 9:14) cleanses the conscience. Washed in pure water: baptism is elsewhere referred to as a washing; cf. 1 Cor 6:11; Eph 5:26.

* [10:25] Our assembly: the liturgical assembly of the Christian community, probably for the celebration of the Eucharist. The day: this designation for the parousia also occurs in the Pauline letters, e.g., Rom 2:16; 1 Cor 3:13; 1 Thes 5:2. (Hebrews, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 24 proclaims Entrance into the Temple.

* [Psalm 24] The Psalm apparently accompanied a ceremony of the entry of God (invisibly enthroned upon the ark), followed by the people, into the Temple. The Temple commemorated the creation of the world (Ps 24:1–2). The people had to affirm their fidelity before being admitted into the sanctuary (Ps 24:3–6; cf. Ps 15). A choir identifies the approaching God and invites the very Temple gates to bow down in obeisance (Ps 24:7–10). (Psalms, PSALM 24 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Mark presents the parable of a Lamp under a Bushel Basket.

* [4:1–34] In parables (Mk 4:2): see note on Mt 13:3. The use of parables is typical of Jesus’ enigmatic method of teaching the crowds (Mk 4:2–9, 12) as compared with the interpretation of the parables he gives to his disciples (Mk 4:10–25, 33–34) to each group according to its capacity to understand (Mk 4:9–11). The key feature of the parable at hand is the sowing of the seed (Mk 4:3), representing the breakthrough of the kingdom of God into the world. The various types of soil refer to the diversity of response accorded the word of God (Mk 4:4–7). The climax of the parable is the harvest of thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold, indicating the consummation of the kingdom (Mk 4:8). Thus both the present and the future action of God, from the initiation to the fulfillment of the kingdom, is presented through this and other parables (Mk 4:26–29, 30–32). (Mark, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)

Larry Gillick, S.J. (2020) comments that whatever is good, especially if very good , we are oriented to desire more of it.

Today’s image is a lamp, a light which, when lit, is not meant to be hidden in a tub or under a bed. Simple and clear enough in the hearing, but, what if we want more, a better lamp, light!   Jesus tells His disciples that, what is hidden will be revealed and what is secret will be disclosed. To this we respond, “ah good, God is going to give us more, clearer, enough!”   We will never have enough to complete Him on earth, one cookie, such as yourself, myself, is what He asks us to be and to share and not from under a tub or bed. Two cookies are always better than one and yet the one, limited, seems to be enough for Jesus to share with us. (Gillick, 2025)

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 time spent quieting our minds and pursuing inner stillness is like tilling the soil of our hearts. It clears away the rocks and rubble of the world and gives space for God’s word to penetrate and take deep root in our hearts. There are no shortcuts. Good soil and a fruitful harvest come only with time and persistence.

Jesus promises to give us as much of himself as we are willing to make room for. So take a moment today, even if it’s just for five minutes, to silence your phone and be still. Let go of your worries and distractions and simply be present with Jesus. Know that he will meet you in the silence and plant the seed of his life ever more deeply in you.

“Lord, quiet my soul so that I can truly hear you.” (Meditation on Mark 4:21-25, 2025)

Friar Jude Winkler notes the passage from Hebrews today is an exhortation to gather in our assembly to proclaim and encourage others. The wisdom sayings in the Gospel of Mark are to encourage us to do things in public to invite others to our community. Friar Jude reminds us that the charity and mercy that we practice opens us to accept love and mercy from God.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Rev. Kamilah Hall Sharp who challenges the church to support those who are suffering from the terrors of domestic abuse. She affirms God’s desire that all be healed and helped. 

For so long, we have failed victims of domestic violence…. Please hear me when I say this; I do not believe God wants any of us to stay in a relationship where we are being abused, married or not. I believe God loves us too much to want us to be abused. God does not want what God has created and said is wonderfully and fearfully made harmed in any way. And as the church, as followers of Jesus, we should not want anyone to be abused for the sake of staying married…. We must be willing to help…. I think we sometimes forget we are the hands and feet of Jesus. We can show or take people to get the help they need. (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek to be open to the nudges of the Spirit to “go the distance” in being light and support for full life to the people we encounter on our journey.

References

Gillick, L. (2025, January 30). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Retrieved January 30, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/013025.html 

Hebrews, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 30, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/10?19 

Mark, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 30, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/4?21 

Meditation on Mark 4:21-25. (2025, January 30). The Word Among Us. Retrieved January 30, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/01/30/1190318/ 

Psalms, PSALM 24 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 30, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/24?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Stand Up Against Violence. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 30, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/stand-up-against-violence/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 30, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jan30