25th week, Ordinary Time, Monday, Sept.25, 2006

Scripture: Proverbs 3:27-34. Psalm 15:2-5. Luke 8:16-18.

One of my Marianist priests loves to find the images in the Scriptures and then from them to develop his homily or his thoughts on the readings for the day. I keep this in mind when looking at the Scriptures, but also try to see the original setting of the texts and analyze them in the light of the liturgists who have chosen them either for the Sunday or the continuous readings of the weekdays. Today the image of the LAMP was impressive and I stayed with it as I reflected and prayed the Scriptures this morning. Here is the lesson and application that I learned from Luke's use of the LAMP image which is also found in Mark and Matthew:

We are to use the LAMP of our eyes to see the needs and concerns of others and not hide from or walk across the street when we see someone who made need our help or whom we may be afraid to say "hello". All of us have this tendency when we see a beggar or a homeless person on the same side of the street. I learn from the wisdom of Proverbs in the first reading that this is not what the person who is filled with the wisdom of God should do. God wants us to be concerned and genuinely supportive of those whom we know are in need, but also pushes us to go beyond that to the stranger and the ones whom we normally avoid. For educators, pastors, religious, and social workers this is especially important. People in the helping professions are called by their very training and skill to do something that would help other people and not just look at a textbook answer and let it go at that. But maybe this applies also to those who are wedded to collecting information at the computer day in and day out or to the scientists who are fixed on their work with a passion. We Americans tend to be workaholics especially in our own domain of interests. Yet, if anyone of us sees a person whom we can help or support and then walks away, I think they, we, I,are missing the point of today's Gospel and the other readings. That is the message I received from reflecting on the Scriptures about hiding my LAMP under a bushel basket or bed.

Luke, the Evangelist of culture and style, does not like to repeat his messages. That is why I was led to see how important this image is, because Luke returns to it at great length and does more with in in chapter 11:33-38. It was this that made me see that the responsibility to others in need is very important. I thank God that the first opportunity to help a person today was not neglected. I did it before I read the passage, but that only helped me to appreciate what the Evangelist is suggesting to me about the image of the LAMP. Amen.