People in Jesus’ time used the oil lamp to keep and control fire as a source of light. Olives provided the main source of oil. In telling the parable of the lamp, Jesus refers to the oil lamp in everyday use. Excavations in Palestine reveal an abundance of such lamps. The oil lamp is an easily understandable and powerful image of the importance of light. The illuminating power of God’s word is “a lamp for my feet and a light for my path” (Ps 119:105). In the Gospel of Matthew, the lamp is the symbol of the eye of the body (6:22). The lamp also symbolizes the vigilance of the faithful servants (Lk 12:35) and the function of the disciples in the world (Mt 5:14-16). Jesus says that the disciples are the light of the world (Mt 5:14). As such, they carry the lamp to give light, heat, and direction to humanity. The light is not their own; it belongs to their Teacher, Jesus, who is “the light of the world” (Jn 9:5). As the lamp is placed on a lampstand to lighten the interior of the house, so the light of discipleship should not be kept hidden. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches his disciples, “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Mt 5:16).

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Jesus said to his disciples, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2021,” ST. PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.