Proverbs 3:27-34 / Luke 8:16-18
It is a cosy feeling to light a candle and to look at the burning flame and the light that is being emitted, especially when we are in a dark room.
A lighted candle would also be conducive for a moment of prayer and meditation.
We would remember the teachings of Jesus and reflect on His Word as we read the Scriptures.
But the time will come to end the prayer and to extinguish the candle and to go out to face the "real" world.
That will be where the challenges will start to come at us, one by one, or maybe all at once.
The 1st reading gives us a few examples of how our faith will be challenged:
When someone in need comes to us, will we say "Go away! Come another time. I will give it to you tomorrow".
Or when our colleague has done better than us, would we plan to sabotage his project and conspire with others against him?
Or will we pick on our worker or subordinate just because we don't like him for whatever reason?
When we extinguish the light of the candle after prayer, the light should continue to shine in our hearts to scatter the darkness of sin and evil.
More so our faith must be the light for all to see so that by our good works they will come to see what and who we believe in.
Let us be the lamp-stands for the light of Jesus to shine for all to see.