FIRST READING
“The perverse man is an abomination to the Lord.”
A reading from the Book of Proverbs (Proverbs 3:27-34)
My son, do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbour, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it” — when you have it with you. Do not plan evil against your neighbour who dwells trustingly beside you. Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways; for the perverse man is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the abode of the righteous. Towards the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he shows favour.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm15:2-3a.3bc-4ab.5 (R. see 1b)
R/. Who shall dwell on your holy mountain, O Lord?
Whoever walks without fault;
who does what is just,
and speaks the truth from his heart.
Who does not slander with his tongue. R/.
Who does no wrong to a neighbour,
who casts no slur on a friend,
who looks with scorn on the wicked,
but honours those who fear the Lord. R/.
R/. Who shall dwell on your holy mountain, O Lord?
Who lends no money at interest,
and accepts no bribes against the innocent.
Such a one shall never be shaken. R/.
ALLELUIA Matthew 5: 16
Alleluia. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
Place your light on a stand that those who enter may see the light.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 8: 16- 18)
At that time: Jesus said to the crowds, “No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light. Take heed then how you hear; for to him who has will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Today’s Reflection
Those who live their faith in Christ with generosity have a light that must be manifested to the world so that that light may become the light of the world. They have a duty to illumine, and to convey to those who do not know the light or know the light by find it hard to radiate the light. The exception to this pattern is found in the case of those who accept the Christian faith in a general sense b do not bear witness to it through their personal lives. The light must be manifested and we all have a role to play; the responsibility belongs to all who are baptized into Christ household.