Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar”
NL Daily Devotion for Tuesday, February 23, 2021
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
I used to think I was a good person. I used to think being good would protect me from the bad people. Now I no longer follow the black and white thinking that believes there are good people and bad people. Now I think there are simply people; some choose better than others, but none are inherently better than another.
Jesus recognized that the "good" people were making bad choices. The light from within was dimmed because their hearts were not consistent with their outward behaviors. They offered sacrifices and rituals in the temple, but then held hate in their hearts and treated others horribly. Jesus challenged them to transform themselves internally so that they might be filled with light - a light that would not be contained, but instead would have unbelievable rippling effects on the community and the world.
I have light inside of me. So do you. I also have darkness. So do you. On any given day, the darkness might seem all consuming, but on another day my light might overpower the darkness. Most of my days are somewhere in the middle. I do my best. So do you. Maybe we can use our struggle to bring out the light to refrain from judging those around us for theirs.
God, your light shines within me, without any of my doing. Grant me the will to do YOUR will, in YOUR name. Amen.
