“Letting the ‘light of God’s Love’ shine through our life of simplicity and passionate tenderness!”
(Based on Heb 10:19-25 and Mk 4:21-25 –Thursday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1 – Feast of St Thomas Aquinas)
An incident is narrated in the life of St Thomas Aquinas.
One day when St Thomas Aquinas was preaching to the local people on the love of God, he observed an old woman listening attentively to his every word.
The old woman impressed the great saint by her simplicity, attentiveness and keenness.
Inspired by her eagerness to learn more about God whom she loved so dearly, he said to the people:
“It is better to be this unlearned woman, loving God with all her heart…
… than the most learned theologian lacking love!”
The lady was able to let the “light of God’s Love” shine through her life of simplicity and passionate tenderness.
We are all invited to lead a saintly life – filled with love – and allow others to experience the Light of God’s love!
Our Christian life exhorts us to be glowing with a holy life, to let others to see the Radiance of God’s Peace!
The Gospel of the Day is an exhortation and a reminder by Jesus to become a “light to the other”
Jesus presents a simple parable, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a bushel or under a bed and not on a stand?” (Mk 4: 21)
In the ancient world, people did not have electricity like we have today.
Most homes would contain several oil lamps because olive oil was in abundance and therefore not expensive.
Oil lamps were the main source of light in every home.
These ancient lamps were usually oval shaped, and flat on top.
They were normally made of clay, but the more expensive lamps were made of bronze and sometimes even of gold.
Olive oil was available in abundance and therefore lamps were left on for long periods of time, and also gave off a sweet scent.
The Lord presents this common example of the Lamp to highlight…
… that Christian lives also ought to shine and glow
… that Gospel values cannot remain hidden and concealed
… that the power of light, however, little, can dispel the gloominess of darkness
The world we live in is often in darkness and in obscurity.
As Christians, we have a duty and an obligation to hold alight the lamp.
The world often runs into the darkness of sin and evil practices…
… Can I be a lamp, bringing them to Christ’s light by my holy and sanctified life?
Many people are often forced to remain in the shadows of guilt, shame and abuse…
… Can I be a lamp, bringing them to Christ’s light by my prayers, sacrifices and good works?
Today we celebrate the Feast of St Thomas Aquinas – the great Doctor and Theologian…
… let us learn to humble ourselves before the Almighty Power of God
Towards the end of his life – this great learned person who had written much on the Lord – during prayer, Christ is said to have told him, “You have written well of me, Thomas. What reward would you have for your labour?” Thomas replied, “Nothing but you, Lord.”
He humbled himself before the Great God to allow God’s Light to always shine through!
When we humble ourselves before the mighty power of God, we allow His light to shine through us.
Our lives become “a glowing and fragrant lamp of God’s Light” when we acknowledge His Great Presence in our lives and allow ourselves to be totally dependent on Him!
The Lord invites us…
…. to let His light to pass through our actions, deeds and activities.
… to let His light illumine our thoughts, visions and mentalities.
Let us understand that, “it is better to be an unlearned person, loving God with all her heart…
… than to be the most learned theologian lacking love!”
And thus, may we let the “light of God’s Love” shine through our life of simplicity and passionate tenderness!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
GOD CHOOSES ABRAHAM
In order to gather together scattered humanity God called Abram from his country, his kindred and his father’s house, and made him Abraham – “the father of a multitude of nations”.
The people descended from Abraham would be the trustee of the promise made to the patriarchs, the chosen people…
… called to prepare for that day when God would gather all his children into the unity of the Church.
They would be the root on to which the Gentiles would be grafted, once they came to believe.19
The patriarchs, prophets and certain other Old Testament figures have been…
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