Luke 8:16-18

             Let there be light

            16 "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. 17 For nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light. 18 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 image of a lamp on a lampstand doesn't have quite the same meaning to us as it did back in the day but I hope I can convey what darkness is like and just how crucial the lamp is.

           Many years ago, visiting the family homestead, I toured an old copper mine. Down we went into the mine. At one point when we were all assembled, the tour guide turned off all the lights. You could not even see your own hand, you could not see an inch in front of your face. It was a bit frightening to say the least.

           We are so used to having light around us, we rarely catch a glimpse of true darkness. The faint light of a street lamp, an outside house light, the glow from an alarm clock, a cable box light or the red glow of a power strip. We seem to never be in total darkness. This was not true in the ancient world, in Jesus' time. That lamp really was kind of crucial. It was the only source of light, you wanted it to be strategically placed and you certainly wouldn't hide it. 

           For our world to function well, I mean, the way God wants it to be, we cannot be hiding our own light.  There is light in each of us. It shines through when we accept who we are  and share the goodness in us that God created. If we hide who we are, no matter who we are, we are making the world a darker place. Our being, our personality, our uniqueness illuminates the world. We are a light that is special and unique. If we deprive the world of our own light, we are dooming the world to a darkness that God would cry over.

             If I could ask you to google Godspel, I'd say look for the song You are the Light of the World. It's all about this reading and it's true.

            You are the ligt of the world.