Wednesday 5 February 2025

St Luke 11: 33 – 36

Jesus said:  ‘No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar, but on the lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness.  Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness.  If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.’

I have, recently, had cataract operations and these verses really have new meaning.  When you have such an operation, for the first week the light is incredibly intense.  It takes your brain some time to adjust. Years ago, a lady had such an operation and told me it was a miracle.  Everything is transformed into a brighter vision, especially the darkness.  I have now experienced it for myself, and I think she was right. These words from scripture and Psalm 139 v 11 and 12 “If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me, even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”

The life of a disciple of Jesus can take you to places and undertaking actions undreamt of, or into extraordinary or your usual, everyday situations, with many places of light and dark, and shades of grey in between. Our eyes, and our lives, are to be focussed on God, so that we can reflect the light of God’s presence back into the world, so that each situation can be transformed and, take on new perspectives. If we are faithful to God, as God is faithful to us, we reflect God’s light into the situations we and others experience, and the world can look brighter and shinier than before. We are called to be the “prism of God’s light and love”, reflecting the vast variety of colours which the world needs, so that to love family, neighbours and enemies alike. What we look at and disseminate to people could be helpful or hinder someone’s view and understanding of God.  Be on your guard, in case you are offering darkness into a dark situation.  Jesus is the light of the world.  “Fix your eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Heb 12 v 2. And stay away from the cellar!!!

Prayer

Lord Jesus, light of the world,
help us to let our light shine before everyone,
so that people will be transformed
by your light and glorify God in heaven. Amen.