Greetings my friends,
This is Mark Gladman,
Also known as Brother Frederick James,
Your friendly neighbourhood monk in docks.
Welcome.
As we begin our time together today,
I just invite you to take a moment to settle.
Allow your body to become still,
Your mind to become still.
Allow yourself to be here completely.
Shoulders relaxed,
Hands resting easily,
Nothing hurried,
Just this moment as we continue our journey into the parables of Jesus.
Just arrive again with openness and with a quiet gentle attention.
Now today's parable speaks of light,
A small lamp,
Just simple,
Just ordinary.
But in the time of Jesus,
A lamp wasn't for decoration,
It was a necessity.
Without a lamp,
The home would sit in darkness.
And yet Jesus asks a strange question in this parable.
Who lights a lamp and then hides it?
It almost sounds foolish in the context,
Right?
And so maybe this story isn't really about lamps.
Maybe it's about the ways that we hide what was meant to shine.
Sometimes we do this out of fear,
But sometimes we do it out of habit or weariness,
Maybe because we're uncertain.
And sometimes it's because we think humility means hiding.
But light isn't given so it can be protected.
Light's given so by it other things can be seen.
So as you listen today,
Notice gently,
Where might something within you be waiting to shine?
So as we share our story today,
Which comes from Matthew chapter 5 verses 14 and 16 and Mark chapter 4 verses 21 and 22.
Just listen first,
Simply hear the story as it was spoken.
Jesus said to them,
You are the light of the world.
A city built on a hill can't be hidden.
No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bowl,
But on a lampstand and it gives light to all in the house.
In the same way,
Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father in heaven.
For nothing is hidden except to be disclosed,
Nor is anything secret except to come to light.
So start by letting the words settle quietly and gently within you.
Just allow the image to remain a lamp,
A light and a house that's filled with its glow.
Now listen again and as you listen,
Notice what catches your attention.
A word,
A phrase,
An image,
Something that seems to linger with you.
Jesus said to them,
You are the light of the world.
A city built on a hill can't be hidden.
No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bowl,
But on a lampstand and it gives light to all in the house.
In the same way,
Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father in heaven.
For nothing is hidden except to be disclosed,
Nor is anything secret except to come to light.
So for the next few moments just stay with what drew your attention,
The phrase or the image.
Just gently return to it and allow it to remain with you.
No need to try to come to some sort of meaning yet,
Just let it sit and listen to the voice of the Spirit as you hold it.
Now listen once more and as you listen,
Notice where this story meets your life.
What light has been placed within you and where is that light being hidden or revealed?
Jesus said to them,
You are the light of the world.
A city built on a hill can't be hidden.
No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bowl,
But on a lampstand and it gives light to all in the house.
In the same way,
Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your father in heaven.
For nothing is hidden except to be disclosed,
Nor is anything secret except to come to light.
Now just rest in stillness and let the image remain.
A small lamp lifting the darkness,
Just simply shining and allow whatever is hidden to be gently brought into the light.
As our time together comes to a close,
I invite you to hold with you as you go this question.
What light in me is meant to shine?
Not way off in the future somewhere or when everything's perfect and all the ducks are lined up,
But now.
And as you step into the rest of your day,
May you trust that even a small light is enough to soften the darkness.
And may grace,
Peace and love go with you and remain with you today and every day.
Amen.
Until next time friends,
Go gently and may peace be with you.
