Monday Of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Living in the Light
Liturgical Cycle: C | Lectionary Cycle: I
Introduction
Today’s liturgy reminds us of God’s power to restore and renew His people. In the first reading (Ezra 1:1-6), the Lord stirs the hearts of His people to return and rebuild His house in Jerusalem. With the proclamation of Cyrus, king of Persia, who freed the exiles, the Jews could return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple, sign of God’s presence, and to become the community of God’s people. Thus they themselves would be a living temple given the task of bearing witness to the God of Israel.
In the Gospel (Lk 8:16-18), Jesus calls us to let our faith shine like a lamp set on a stand, so that others may see God’s light through us. Together, these readings invite us to be instruments of renewal and bearers of God’s light in the world. Christ speaks of the word of God as a light that cannot remain hidden; it should shine in the lives of those who believe in the gospel, so that they can bear witness to Christ and his message.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
you want our faith to be
a lamp placed on a lamp-stand,
so that people might see your light
and not stumble in the dark.
Speak your word to us,
give us the life-giving Spirit of your Son,
his Spirit of unity and freedom,
that we may be to the world
the new humanity of Jesus Christ,
who lives with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
First Reading
In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, the Lord chose to fulfill the word he had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah. So he moved the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, to issue the following command and send it out in writing to be read aloud everywhere in his kingdom.
And all their neighbors offered them various kinds of help: gold, silver, livestock, and precious objects in large amounts, in addition to every type of voluntary offering.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 126:1b-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves.
R. The Lord has done marvels for us.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your light shine before others,
that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
“No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a bowl or puts it under the bed; instead, they place it on a lampstand so that everyone entering may see the light.
In the same way, there is nothing hidden that will not be uncovered; nothing kept secret that will not be revealed clearly.
Now, pay attention and listen carefully, for whoever produces will be given more; but from those who do not produce, even what they seem to have will be taken away from them.”
Prayers of the Faithful
– That the light of our love may shine and bear witness to Christ in our friendliness and understanding and our sharing with the needy, we pray:
– That the light of our justice may shine in our efforts to respect the rights of everyone and in our work to bring equity and justice to all, we pray:
– That the light of our joy may shine in our sympathy and affection for one another, in our faithfulness to our friends, in our liturgical celebrations and in our sense of community, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
accept these gifts of bread and wine
and let them become for us
the body and blood of your Son.
May he nourish our faith
and make us capable of bearing witness
that in him we can become one
and live for one another,
for he is our Lord for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
in this eucharistic celebration
you have let us encounter your Son.
Let him stay with us this day,
that people may discover
how much he means to us
and what he can do with us
notwithstanding our limitations.
Not to us, Lord,
but to you and to your Son,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit
be all honor and praise for ever.
Blessing
To bear witness consists in calling attention not to ourselves but to God and what he can do in us, poor instruments. We can only propose what we believe and live and then leave the rest to God’s grace. May God give you this attitude and bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
22 September 2025
Luke 8: 16-18
In today’s Gospel (Luke 8:16–18), Jesus gives us three sayings, each one a gentle warning and invitation.
First, He tells us that no one lights a lamp and then hides it. The Christian life is meant to shine. Yet, how often do we hide our faith out of fear of being different? Even animals reject what stands out, and human society can be just as harsh. But Jesus calls us to show our colours. However humble our life may seem, we are invited to say with joy: “I belong to Christ.” Faith is not a burden to conceal, but a light to share.
Second, Jesus reminds us that nothing remains hidden. We may try to hide things from ourselves, pretending not to see the consequences of our actions. We may try to hide things from others, but secrets weigh heavily. We may even think we can hide from God, yet He is the “God who sees” (Gen 16:13). True freedom comes when we live in the light, with nothing to conceal.
Finally, Jesus gives us a simple but profound truth: to those who have, more will be given; to those who do not, even what they have will be taken away. Life does not stand still. The heart that seeks will grow; the heart that stops seeking will shrink. Just as muscles strengthen with use, so too faith deepens when practiced. But if we grow lazy or indifferent, we risk losing even the little we have.
This Gospel invites us to let our faith shine, to live transparently in God’s light, and to keep growing day by day in trust and love. The lamp of faith was lit in us not to be hidden, but to brighten the world.
10,000-hour Rule
The “10,000-hour Rule” made famous by Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers may help us understand what Jesus means when he says: “Whoever produces will be given more; but from those who do not produce, even what they seem to have will be taken away from them.” Based on his studies on high achievers, Gladwell concludes that if one practices a skill for around 10,000 hours, he/she can become an expert in it. Though recent researchers have found holes in his findings and have argued that practice is one of the many elements that contribute to success, no one can deny that practice is one of the most significant elements. If you don’t use a skill, you lose it. The more you use the skill, the more adept you become. The same applies to the spiritual gifts and fruits of the Spirit: The more you practice them, more of them you have.
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23 September 2024
The Light of Christ
What does the image of light and a lamp tell us about God's kingdom? Lamps enable people to avoid stumbling in the dark. God's grace not only illumines the darkness in our lives, but it also fills us with spiritual light, joy, and peace. Jesus used the image of a lamp to describe how his disciples are to live in the light of his truth and love. Just as natural light illumines the darkness and enables one to see visually, so the light of Christ shines in the hearts of believers and enables us to see the heavenly reality of God's kingdom. In fact, our mission is to be light-bearers of Christ so that others may see the truth of the gospel and be freed from the blindness of sin and deception.
Jesus reminds us that nothing can stay hidden or secret. We may try to conceal things from others, from ourselves, and from God. It can be tempting to ignore the repercussions of our sinful ways and bad habits, even when we are fully aware of those consequences, and to keep them hidden from others and even from God. Nevertheless, everything is known to God, who sees all.
The essence of our faith should radiate through our actions. St. Francis directed his disciples to spread the message of the gospel "using words, if needed." When we are truly following the Gospel, the light of the Gospel will naturally be reflected in our conduct. It is by embodying the Word of God that we can offer the most powerful witness.
"Lord, you guide me by the light of your saving truth. Fill my heart and mind with your light and truth and free me from the blindness of sin and deception."