33 “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. 35 See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36 Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.” Luke 11:33-36
In our community electricity goes out, so it seems, with every major storm. A couple of years ago at Christmas the electricity went out for three days. It was a dark time while we figured out how to survive with family visiting from the East Coast. They always have light. We seem to always lose light. Yet, we knew the light would eventually return. We live in a world of electricity.
In a world without electricity any kind of light was a high value. Most lamps were quite small so even the smallest light is considered quite important. It didn’t take a big bowl to cover a lamp and you would certainly put a lamp on a stand to illuminate the room. Dark was really dark so even a small light would break through and conquer the dark.
Jesus calls his followers to understand that the heart is the lamp of the body. When the eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light, but if they are bad, your whole body is full of darkness. Jesus gave his followers the light. His followers saw his word and actions. In the preceding verses Jesus points to a “wicked generation” that lives in darkness. Now, Jesus wants his disciples to have eyes of light that illuminate the whole body.
Jesus is calling us to be filled with light.
For Lenten Reflection:
Where are the times in your life when you have been overwhelmed by the darkness? How did you seek the light or did you resist the light?
Prayer: Dear God, We struggle with our dark eyes. We can be that “wicked generation.” Give us the eyes of light so we can show light to the world. In Christ’s name. Amen.
