Where is your faith?

‘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. For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. Then 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.’

Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.’ But he said to them, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.’

One 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, and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A gale swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. They 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. He 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?’

- Luke 8:16-25

Jesus continues his speech after telling the parable of the Sower, in which we learn about how the word takes root, or not. Here he develops what it is to nurture that truth in us, and what those who do hear must do.

To develop ears to hear and eyes to see is to light an internal lamp. It is up to those who nurture this word and this truth within themselves to allow that lamp to shine and to brighten, to develop this gift. If we thirst for spiritual truth, and seek it honestly, then we bear the responsibility to continue in its ways. We don't stand still, but allow it to brighten and magnify itself within us. Jesus also says we must "pay attention to how we listen" - because for those who have turned on this light, more will be given; nothing is secret that will not be disclosed or come to light. But if we do not carry this with us or develop this spiritual gift, what we have will be taken away. This is not a possession to hide or own like a treasure you keep to yourself, but a gift to be developed and brought forward in growth. It is a forward process of bearing fruit that is initiated by the reception of the word.

Then we are told that Jesus' mother and brothers are looking for him, but Jesus announces to the crowds that those who hear this word, and receive it and nurture it, those who shine this lamp and allow it to magnify, are truly his mother and brothers. If we go forward into this truth and live it and magnify it, we become his family. We live in relationship to him.

Finally, in this passage we have the story of Jesus calming a storm as he and his disciples are in a boat. Jesus is asleep and the disciples are afraid of perishing because of the strong gale that starts to blow. I think this story in itself is an illustration of going forward in faith, with this word, this light we must allow to develop and magnify within us. Once we start down the road, we will be shaken by life's events and changes, and our emotions that create upheaval within us, but we must call upon the Word, and have faith in that Word and go forward with him. Through all things in life, we go forward, holding the word fast in an honest and good heart, and bearing fruit with patient endurance. This is what faith does and how it works - it's a relationship of love and trust that is not bound by time nor space nor the exigencies of life. Through faith, our lamps shine and magnify and grow in the light. This is what he expects of us, what he hopes for us, and the nature of gifts of Spirit. There may be dark nights, but we must have faith in the light.