When Jesus speaks about not hiding a lamp under a jar, He's revealing something profound about our very purpose as baptized Catholics. Think about it, when you light a candle in your home, you don't immediately cover it up, do you? That would be absurd. The whole point of lighting it is to push back the darkness, to illuminate what was once hidden. Christ is telling us that the same principle applies to our faith. We've been given the light of Christ through our baptism, confirmed in the Holy Spirit, and nourished by the Eucharist, not so we can keep this gift locked away in the privacy of our hearts, but so we can be beacons of hope in a world desperately searching for meaning.
The Catholic understanding of today's gospel goes deeper than mere evangelization, though that's certainly part of it. The Church teaches us that we are called to be contemplatives in action, people who have encountered Jesus in prayer and sacrament and then carry that life-changing encounter into every corner of our daily lives. But here's something beautiful: we're not meant to carry this light alone. God has given us the gift of Catholic fellowship, those solid friendships with like-minded believers who help us keep our lamps burning bright. I am deeply grateful to be surrounded by so many wonderful, sincere Catholic friends: young and old, male and female, couples and singles, from all different backgrounds and ethnicities. I cherish and love them all. These friendships span every category you can imagine, and I am truly blessed by this rich diversity within our shared faith. There's a certain harmony in our communications, a joy in our fellowship that we deeply enjoy together, and I only look to make this network of friends continue to grow. When we surround ourselves with faithful Catholic friends like these, something powerful happens: our individual lights begin to create a radiance that can't be ignored. Think of how candles grouped together illuminate a room far more effectively than a single flame. Iron sharpens iron, and faithful friends help us stay accountable to living authentically, encourage us when our light grows dim, and join us in sharing the Gospel through both word and witness.
But here's where Jesus challenges us with that mysterious warning about having and not having: "To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away." This isn't about material possessions or even spiritual gifts as we might understand them; it's about our openness to receive and share God's life within the context of authentic Christian community. The person who "has" is the one who remains receptive, who continues to seek deeper intimacy with Jesus through prayer, and who surrounds themselves with friends who encourage this same pursuit. They understand that faith grows not in isolation but in fellowship, when we gather with other Catholics who challenge us to live more fully, who pray with us through difficulties, and who celebrate God's goodness alongside us. These friendships become channels of grace themselves. When we share our struggles and victories with trusted Catholic friends, when we study Scripture together or serve the poor as a community, our individual lights multiply exponentially. The more we give and receive within these sacred friendships, the more we discover the inexhaustible nature of God's love.
So here's the question that sits at the heart of today's gospel: What jars are you using to cover your light, and are you surrounding yourself with the kind of Catholic friends who will help you remove them? Maybe it's fear of what others might think, or the comfortable assumption that your faith is a purely private matter. Perhaps you've isolated yourself from other serious Catholics, thinking you can go it alone in your spiritual journey. Christ calls us to examine these hiding places not to shame us, but to free us, and often that freedom comes through the encouragement of faithful friends who see our light even when we've forgotten it's there. Because the truth is, when we try to live our Catholic faith in isolation, we don't just deprive the world of our witness, we deprive ourselves of the joy and strength that comes from sharing this journey with others who truly understand. What would change in your spiritual life if you intentionally sought out and nurtured friendships with Catholics who are as serious about following Jesus Christ as you are? How might your combined lights illuminate not just your own paths, but draw others into the warmth of God's love?
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
