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"No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him."
Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd. And it was told Him by some, who said, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You." But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."
Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side of the lake." And they launched out. But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, "Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!"
- Luke 8:16-25
In yesterday's reading, we read first about the many people who populate Jesus' ministry. While there are twelve chosen apostles, there are many more who are a part of this ministry and form its support and company, including many women. Luke tells us that besides the apostles, with Jesus were also "certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities -- Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance." When a great multitude had gathered to hear Him ("who had come to Him from every city"), Jesus told the parable of the Sower. Some seed fell by the wayside, some on the rock, some among thorns, and some in good soil. Jesus said, ""He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable mean?" And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that 'Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.' Jesus explained the parable to His apostles: "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience."
"No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him." Here is another collection of teachings we also read in Matthew's Gospel. Here, emphasizing and "reflecting" on the parable of the Sower, we're given meaning in juxtaposition with what Jesus has just taught the apostles. My study bible says, "Taking heed to hear Jesus, the Word of God, brings light within the soul. It must not be covered but allowed to shine forth. The more one permits God's light to shine, the more light is given." We are initiated into mysteries with real "seeing and hearing." But it doesn't stop there; the Fount of light continues giving. But it's up to us to "take heed how we hear" -- for whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him. Bearing fruit takes real perseverance.
Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd. And it was told Him by some, who said, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You." But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it." At first glance, this may seem to be a poor reflection His mother and brothers! But if we look closely, Jesus is simply teaching another truth, offering more light to all. His closest family is also His adopted family, to which anyone may belong. That is, those who "hear the word of God and do it." My study bible puts it this way: "Jesus declares His true family is a spiritual one." By sharing in the light we may all be related at true and deep levels in God's love. We may become children by adoption, even as Christ is only-begotten.
Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side of the lake." And they launched out. But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, "Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!" Besides the fact that Jesus, as Christ, has power over nature, there's something else deeply powerful in this story. We've read about Jesus' now teaching to multitudes; so much so, that He now teaches in parables. His ministry is great and spreading, He has many close followers and supporters. Like the parable of the Mustard Seed, which will appear later in Luke's gospel, this ministry and presence of the Kingdom is spreading and growing, they are "coming from every city." Jesus' growing family is a spiritual one. But here, they venture off across the lake, into Gentile territory, and it's a new break in the ministry, another turning point. They are heading for unknown territory, uncharted in some sense, as it is outside of Israel. What do we receive when we venture into the unknown, encounter something very "other" than what we know? The human response, very much conditioned by our life in the world, is fear. But Jesus has the answer to worldly fear, and it is faith.
Expanding our lives in faith in the world, we will encounter many obstacles. I think we can safely say that the Gospel stories, and especially the story of Christ and His Passion, teach us that the world will set before us obstacles, some seemingly great, some not. But all of them will involve an element of fear. We encounter our own limitations in this struggle to receive and share the light, as Jesus puts it in the verses above about the lampstand. But this ministry, wherever and however it may come to us, will always involve a growth and a spread: whether it be within us or external to us or both. We will encounter our worldly obstacles, our fears and limitations, our own conditioning, our fear of what is "other" and different from what we know. Many modern theologians have applied just this fear of "otherness" or "difference" to teach where faith leads in communion, as adopted children who are each unique and different from one another. But I believe the gospel stories today speak for themselves: that no matter what we encounter in life, especially in the pursuit of a life following His word and what we perceive in our hearts in relation to Him, we must keep in mind that it is a part of our lives in this world such as it is and as we are that we will encounter our limitations and fears. They are obstacles to be met with faith and trust in Christ. This is not an egomaniacal assertion of our own power as instruments, but rather a constant placing of trust in the heart, a prayer for guidance, and a deeper love in this spirit of adoption. His light is meant to shine and to continue to grow, and it grows in us and with us as we must accommodate that growth in ourselves. How does the light shine for you in new ways? What limits does it cast itself upon for you to give to Christ in faith?
