(Please read the Scripture passage before reading the homily.
We start off with a brief story about the formation of the letter of the alphabet. Near where I live is Bethel Township. Bethel starts with a “B” and means House of God. Beth is also the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and it also means house. The form of the letter seems to represent the shape of a house, in Hebrew a one-room dwelling, in English a two-room house. Houses back in Jesus’ day did not have electricity or batteries. People had to carry their own light into the house, using candles or torches. Jesus’ audience knew all about lights in houses.
Like a light in a dark room that gives light to all, so the whispered word is heard by all. It is hard to hide speech in such close quarters.
We, then, become the light that has to shine and the word that must be heard. Our modern houses have many rooms with many walls: our light has to penetrate each room and broadcast the word throughout.
We have to take care how we hear, how we speak and how we let our light shine. The purpose of light is to shine so others can see. The purpose of speech is so that others can hear. Neither light nor tongue exist for its own sake: light must enlighten and tongue needs an ear.
If we have been enlightened by Christ and have heard his word, then we must become light and language to those around us. Otherwise, we are lights under a basket or whispers in the dark and we do not fulfill our purpose in life. We have to be light that shines, and the word that is heard.
The Gospel is a challenge; do we accept it?