this little light of mine

Good morning all,
This parable may say more than it seems to if we sit with it for a while. On the surface it reminds us that the light we're given, the message Jesus teaches isn't to be kept to ourselves. Light is meant to give light to the whole room, not just to the lamp. Sometimes we Presbyterians are afraid to let others see the light Christ has given us. This parable also points to the end of time when everything that's hidden now will be revealed by Christ's light. Our little light is part of the light that will one day fill the world.

Jesus has some challenging things to say about family, and this passage is no exception. The word of God makes a new family of those who hear and do it, but that also means it challenges the bonds of the natural family when some believe and others do not. The family is expanded infinitely; old ties aren't cut, but they also don't have a monopoly on the bonds of family. We have thousands, millions of brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, not just the few relatives we are born with. That family isn't just limited to the church either; there are plenty of people who belong to a different faith, or to no faith who still hear the word of God and do it. I know I have lots of room to grow when it comes to really treating that world-wide community as my family. I pray God would keep opening us up to our brothers and sisters around the world and right next door.

God bless,
Sam

Luke 8:16-25
16“No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. 17For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. 18Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.” 19Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” 21But he said to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

22One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they put out, 23and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. 24They went to him and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. 25He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?”