Vigils Reading – Alternate

ITS LAMPS ARE LAMPS OF FIRE

From a sermon by John of Ford^[1]

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The simplicity of the just man is a lamp, as holy Job tells us; a sense of honor is a lamp, a very bright one; self respect is a lamp, a very lovely one; every appearance and encounter with him is a lamp. A most brilliant lamp are all the words of truth that come forth from the mouth of Wisdom and dispel the darkness of error. They refute the night of sin with the light of justice. There is a still darker night, the excuses wemake for our sins, and this too they drive with a serene brightness. In fact, all that a just man is shows itself outwardly like brightness, and like a lamp, he is all on fire to save us. When he is silent, his silence does us good, and away when he speaks, it is as if he speaks the words of God, a source of grace for those who hear him. And ‘when he renders service,’ as the apostle says, ‘it is as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies.’

Because the fire flaming in this lamp is so great, a holy light appears outwardly, dazzling our eyes. This is not the light of knowledge, which we can obtain from someone by begging for it, nor does it come from the witness of somebody else’s conscience, namely, of those who are accustomed to sell oil to the foolish virgins. ‘All the glory of the king’s daughter is from within.’ Outwardly she makes her lamp luminous, but the glory is reserved for within. Inwardly, the oil of gladness and a wealth of charity makes her burn to the glory of God, and outwardly she shines to give grace to men. As scripture puts it: ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven’.

^[1] John of Ford.  Sermons on the Final Verses of  the Song of Songs – Vol. 7.  Trans.  Wendy Mary Beckett.  Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1984. Sermon 108.