Mk 4:21–25
Jesus also said to them,
“When the light comes, is it put under a tub or a bed? Surely it is put on a lampstand. Whatever is hidden will be disclosed, and whatever is kept secret will be brought to light. Listen then, if you have ears!”
And he also said to them,
“Pay attention to what you hear. In the measure you give, so shall you receive, and still more will be given to you. For to the one who produces something, more will be given, and from him who does not produce anything, even what he has will be taken away from him.”
REFLECTION
There are two everyday images that the Gospel presents us: light and measurement. We do not need to think hard in order to know the purpose of these common images. Light is used to cast out darkness, so when it is hidden it defeats its purpose. A measurement, on the other hand, is an instrument whose purpose is not only to determine physical characteristics but also to describe a certain value, like a person’s character. Wisdom based on Christ’s teachings is like a bright light that casts out the darkness of confusion. What is hidden will eventually see the light of day. Jesus is inviting us to share our gifts with others, not hide these. He also knows our tendency to rationalize our own mistakes and our difficulty to dismiss the same mistakes in others. Jesus casts the spotlight on this propensity using the image of a measurement. Jesus did not mean it to be a legalistic matter of cause and effect. He uses it to highlight the meaning of trust. Those who learn to trust in him are freed from the tendency to measure others based on self-righteousness. The measurement Jesus uses is based only on love and mercy.
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