Show Don't Tell: Mark 4:21-25

Imagine a small, bustling village during the twilight hours, where the shadows stretch long and the last golden rays of the sun dance on the cobblestone streets. In a modest home, a young mother named Miriam is preparing dinner for her family. The aroma of spices fills the air, mingling with the soft laughter of her children playing nearby. As she sets the table, she reaches for an oil lamp, its glass surface glistening in the fading light.

Miriam pauses for a moment, recalling the words of her beloved rabbi: “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? No! You put it on its stand.” With a smile, she places the lamp atop a wooden stool, allowing its warm glow to spill across the room. The light pushes back the encroaching darkness, illuminating her children's faces, filled with wonder and joy.

In that sacred moment, she understands the profound truth of her rabbi’s teaching. The lamp, which represents truth and revelation, is meant to be seen, not hidden. Miriam reflects on the hidden aspects of her own life—the dreams she harbored, the fears she battled—and realizes that these too are meant to come into the light.

“Consider carefully what you hear,” she whispers to herself, knowing that the measure of understanding she seeks will be determined by her willingness to engage with the light. As she watches her children play, she acknowledges that this light is not just for her; it is meant to be shared, to draw others into the warmth of God’s love.