This passage is found in Matthew's gospel after the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes tell us the kind of people we ought to be. But this passage, tells us that that it is not enough to be a good person. As followers of Christ our goodness has to be visible to others. An invisible Christian is a contradiction in terms. So Jesus says that no one lights a lamp and then puts it under a cover where it cannot be seen. That would be ridiculous. No, a lamp is put on a lampstand so that it can be seen by everybody. In the long run, the Gospel is saying, no matter what we do, will come to light some day.

Would I prefer to be remembered as a person who radiated the spirit of Christ and the Gospel or someone of whom, after my death, people will be saying, "I never knew he was a Catholic." Again, Jesus says, "to the one who has, more will be given." And "he who has not [because he has not been hearing and absorbing properly] will lose even the little he has." To be a Christian is not to reach a certain level and stay there; it essentially means constant growth and development. To stay still or to stagnate is to go back. Constant growth and visibility are the two qualities we must have to be true followers of Jesus.