MONDAY, TWENTY FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Ezr 1: 1-6 Ps 126: 1- 6 Lk 8: 16-18
LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE
Today, Jesus offers what seems at first to be nothing more than common sense: “Who would light a lamp and then cover it with a jar or hide it under a bed?” A lamp is meant to shine, to dispel darkness, and to guide. Yet the Lord’s teaching goes beyond simple logic: “For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest…to those who have, more will be given!” These words come alive in today’s first reading through the remarkable story of King Cyrus of Persia. Nearly 47 years had passed since the destruction of Solomon’s Temple and the exile of the Jews in Babylon. During that time, the mighty Babylonian empire itself fell to the Persians, and Cyrus ascended the throne. In the first year of his reign, the Lord “stirred up the spirit” of this pagan king, commissioning him to rebuild His temple in Jerusalem.
Why would God entrust such a sacred mission, to a Gentile ruler rather than to one of His own people? Perhaps here we find the meaning of Jesus’ words: “To the one who has, more will be given.” This had nothing to do with Cyrus’ wealth or military power; it was about his openness to the living God of Israel. The more Cyrus acknowledged the Lord as the true God, the more God entrusted to him—His plans, His people, and His mission. Seen side by side, the Gospel and the first reading paint Cyrus as the very image of the lamp Jesus describes. Lit by the fire of God’s word, Cyrus refused to hide this light. Instead, he proclaimed it boldly throughout his vast empire by issuing an edict: every Jew held in exile was free to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple of the Lord. His proclamation was not only an act of governance but a testimony—a light shining for all to see—declaring that all his victories and kingdoms were gifts from the God of Israel. May we, like Cyrus, allow the light of God’s word to burn brightly within us, refusing to hide it, so that others too may walk in its brilliance.
Response: What great deeds the Lord worked for us!
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