We enjoy the ease and convenience of having modern light fixtures in our homes. At the click of a finger, we can brighten up a room.

The Jews who lived in Jesus’ time did not experience such comfort. Their way to bring light into the house was crude and primitive. They put oil in lamps which became the source of light inside a home. Without the lamp filled with oil, they are immersed in darkness and could trip on the ground and hurt themselves.

Jesus uses this simple house fixture to talk about the importance of faith in our life as his followers. According to St. Paul, without faith and hope, we would be the most pitiable of all men. Life would be reduced to endless striving and struggle, devoid of any significance or meaning. With our faith in the Almighty, we are assured that our sacrifices are valuable to the Lord, and no suffering borne in his name would be lost.

As God’s children, we are encouraged to share our faith with other people. The Church to which we belong was entrusted by Jesus with a missionary spirit. To be missionaries of the faith is not a mere option but a mission attached to our very character as Christians.

To be a missionary does not always entail leaving one’s place to travel to faraway places to preach to people. We can share in God’s mission by offering prayers or financial help to support the mission of the Church. Nothing, of course, beats the mission of living a credible Christian life and allowing our life story to be a believable narration of the Gospel.

We received our faith at baptism, but we must constantly fill our lamp with oil— prayers, good works, sacrifices, and other practices that can keep our faith burn with intensity.

First Reading

• 2 Sm 7:18-19, 24-29

After Nathan had spoken to King David, the king went in and sat before the Lord and said, “Who am I, Lord God, and who are the members of my house, that you have brought me to this point? Yet even this you see as too little, Lord God; you have also spoken of the house of your servant for a long time to come: this too you have shown to man, Lord God!”

You have established for yourself your people Israel as yours forever, and you, Lord, have become their God. And now, Lord God, confirm for all time the prophecy you have made concerning your servant and his house, and do as you have promised. Your name will be forever great, when men say, “The Lord of hosts is God of Israel,” and the house of your servant David stands firm before you. It is you, Lord of hosts, God of Israel, who said in a revelation to your servant, “I will build a house for you.” Therefore your servant now finds the courage to make this prayer to you.

And now, Lord God, you are God and your words are truth; you have made this generous promise to your servant. Do, then, bless the house of your servant that it may be before you forever; for you, Lord God, have promised, and by your blessing the house of your servant shall be blessed forever.

Responsorial Psalm • Ps 132

“The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.”

Gospel • Mark 4:21-25

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 2026,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.