Thursday, January 29, 2026
Gospel Reading: Mark 4:21-25
The Gospel Passage
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."
A Light Meant to Be Seen
There is something wonderfully practical about the way Jesus teaches. He does not speak in abstract theories or complicated theological formulas. He talks about lamps. He talks about beds and baskets. He uses the stuff of everyday life to reveal the deepest truths about God and about ourselves.
In today's Gospel from Mark, Jesus asks a question that seems almost silly at first. Who would light a lamp only to hide it under a basket? Who would go through the trouble of striking a flame just to smother it beneath a bed? The answer, of course, is no one. It would make no sense. A lamp exists for one purpose: to give light. To hide it would defeat the entire point.
And yet, Jesus is not really talking about lamps. He is talking about us. He is talking about the light of faith that burns within every baptized person. He is talking about the Good News that we have received: and the question of what we do with it.
The Temptation to Hide
It is easy to understand why people sometimes want to keep their faith hidden. The world can be a hostile place for believers. There are pressures to conform, to stay quiet, to blend in. Sometimes we worry about what others might think. Sometimes we feel inadequate, as if our faith is too small or too weak to share with anyone else.
But Jesus reminds us that hiding the light is not an option. The light of Christ is not meant to be a private possession. It is meant to shine outward. It is meant to illuminate the darkness around us. When we receive the gift of faith, we also receive the responsibility to share it.
This does not mean we need to be loud or aggressive. It does not mean we need to force our beliefs on others. But it does mean that our lives should reflect the light we have received. Our words, our actions, our choices: all of these are opportunities to let the light of Christ shine through us.
Local Priests: Lamps for Their People
When we think about the light of faith shining in the world, we might think of great missionaries traveling to distant lands. We might picture famous saints or powerful preachers. But often, the most important light shines in quieter, more ordinary ways.
In mission territories around the world, local priests serve as lamps for their communities. They are not outsiders bringing a foreign message. They are sons of the soil, raised in the same villages and neighborhoods as the people they serve. They speak the local language. They understand the local customs. They share the joys and struggles of their own people.
These local priests are uniquely positioned to let the light of Christ shine in their communities. They can reach people in ways that foreign missionaries cannot. They can build lasting relationships based on trust and shared experience. They are not visitors passing through. They are permanent fixtures, steady flames that continue to burn year after year.
The Work of Formation
But becoming a priest is not a simple matter. It requires years of study, prayer, and formation. Seminarians must learn Scripture, theology, philosophy, and pastoral skills. They must grow in holiness and develop the spiritual maturity needed to lead others. All of this takes time, and all of it requires resources.
In many mission areas, the local Church simply does not have the financial means to support the formation of its own priests. Seminaries need buildings, books, and teachers. Seminarians need food, clothing, and basic necessities. Without outside help, many promising vocations would go unfulfilled. The lamp would never be lit in the first place.
This is where the global Church comes together in solidarity. Catholics around the world are called to support the formation of local clergy in mission territories. It is a beautiful expression of our unity as one Body of Christ. When we help train a priest in Africa or Asia or Latin America, we are investing in the future of the Church. We are ensuring that the light of faith will continue to shine for generations to come.
The Society of St. Peter the Apostle
The Society of St. Peter the Apostle is one of the four Pontifical Mission Societies, and its specific mission is to support the formation of local clergy and religious in mission territories. Founded in 1889 by Jeanne Bigard, the Society has been working for over a century to ensure that every diocese in the missions has the priests and religious it needs.
The Society provides financial assistance for seminaries, novitiates, and houses of formation. It helps cover the costs of education, room and board, and pastoral training. It supports not only future priests but also brothers, sisters, and catechists who will serve alongside them.
The work of the Society of St. Peter the Apostle is deeply rooted in the Gospel we hear today. It is about making sure that the lamp is placed on the lampstand, not hidden under a basket. It is about giving local Churches the resources they need to raise up their own leaders, their own lights.
When we support the formation of local clergy, we are participating in the mission of Christ Himself. We are helping to ensure that every community has someone to celebrate the sacraments, to preach the Word, and to shepherd the faithful. We are investing in lamps that will shine for decades to come.
To learn more about this vital work, visit the Society of St. Peter the Apostle at https://pontificalmissions.org/who-we-are/the-society-of-st.-peter-the-apostle.
The Measure You Give
Jesus concludes today's Gospel with a challenging statement: "The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you."
This is both a promise and a warning. When we are generous with the light we have received: when we share it freely and openly: we will receive even more. Our faith will grow stronger. Our understanding will deepen. Our love will expand.
But if we hoard the light, if we keep it selfishly for ourselves, even what we have will begin to fade. Faith is not meant to be stored away. It is meant to be lived and shared. The more we give, the more we receive.
A Prayer for Today
Lord Jesus, You are the Light of the World. Thank You for sharing Your light with us through the gift of faith. Help us never to hide this precious gift under a basket of fear or indifference. Give us the courage to let Your light shine through our words and actions.
We pray today for all seminarians and religious in formation around the world. Bless their studies and their growth in holiness. Provide for their needs through the generosity of Your people. Raise up many holy priests and religious to serve Your Church in mission territories.
May the light of faith continue to spread to every corner of the earth, until all people come to know Your love and mercy.
Amen.
– Fr. Deji