Monday 19 September 2022

Today is Monday the 19th of September, in the 25th week of Ordinary Time.


Tenebrae, directed by Nigel Short, sing “Joyful Light” from Rachmaninoff’s Vespers.

“Joyful light of the holy glory of the immortal one.” As I look around me now, can I sense that light, that holy presence here, and invite God’s joyful light into my life?

Svete tikhyi svyatyya slavy, Bezsmertnago,
Otsa Nebesnago, Svyatago Blazhennago, Iisuse Khriste!
Prishedshe na zapad solntsa, videvshe svet vechernii,
poyem Otsa, Syna i Svyatago Dukha, Boga!
Dostoin esi vo vsya vremena pet byti glasi prepodobnymi,
Syne Bozhii, zhivot dayai, temzhe mir Tya slavit


Gladsome light of the holy glory of the Immortal One,
the Heavenly Father, holy and blessed, O Jesus Christ.
Now that we have come to the setting of the sun and behold the light of evening,
we praise the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God.
Thou art worthy at every moment to be praised in hymns by reverent voices.
O Son of God, thou art the giver of life; therefore all the world glorifies thee.



Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.


Luke 8:16-18

Jesus said to his disciples: "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.

“Nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light.” When you hear these words, do they sound like a threat to you, or a promise? Bad news or good news? Something to be feared, or something to look forward to?

Is there some part of your life, or work, or relationships that is a bit “in the shadows” – that you tend to, want to, keep in the dark; that you fear being brought into the light?

“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.” – this rather paradoxical statement has always been something of a puzzle for Christians. But here in Luke’s gospel, it follows on from the instruction, “pay attention to how you listen”. Does this suggestion that it might have something to do with listening and understanding make more sense of the paradox for you?

“Pay attention to how you listen.” Can you do that, as you hear the passage read again?

Can you ask the Lord now, in your own words, to shed his light on you and on your life, to give you light, to give you greater understanding?

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.