“Approaching the Throne of God’s Mercy and allowing His Light to shine through our life!”
(Based on Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-19 and Lk 12:35-38 – Tuesday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time)
Little Jane heard a sermon in church on “Let your light shine!”
She remembered the verse; however, did not understand the text much, until her mother explained: “It means, to be good, obedient and cheerful”
That evening, after coming back from playing with her friends – where she had been a little naughty and mischievous – Jane came back to her mother and said:
“Ma, sorry I have blown myself out!
Can you light me again?”
Every Christian is called to become a beacon of light in the darkness and to be a shining star in the ambience of every night.
Is the Light of Christ shining in me?
The Gospel of the Day too shares this aspect and reminds the aspect of being watchful for the Coming of the Lord, by keeping the Light of Christ alight!
Jesus said to His disciples, “Be ready, dressed for service, AND KEEP YOUR LAMPS LIT…” (Lk 12: 35)
To keep our lamps lit – is the reminder and challenge of the Gospel today.
At our Baptism, we all have received the Light of Christ.
This light, is not just to be preserved…
… but is to be nurtured and fostered daily.
But we live in a world when there are many a winds seeking to put off this light in us.
… we live in a world, where there is a strong engulfing of the darkness, trying to devour the light in us.
What are the different winds that are seeking to put off the Light of Christ in us?
A. The wind of “losing the focus from God”
i. King David
King David was a shining light to the people of his kingdom, as long as he followed the teachings and had his focus on God.
But when he allowed his focus to shift from God, he sinned.
He allowed himself to focus on the object of his pleasure by sinning with the wife of Uriah.
The wind of “losing the focus from God” blew strong to put off the light in him….
ii. Samson
Samson was a shining light of power and might, as long as he was faithful to God and had his focus on God.
But when he allowed his focus to shift from God, he sinned.
He allowed himself to focus on the object of his delight by revealing the secret to Delilah
The wind of “losing the focus from God” blew strong to put off the light in him….
iii. Peter
Peter was a shining light to his disciples as a person of faith, as long as he followed the instructions of his Master to walk on the waters.
But when he allowed his focus to shift from the Lord, he began to sink.
He allowed himself to focus on the object of his fear and self-panic.
The wind of “losing the focus from God” blew strong to put off the light in him….
B. The wind of “being focused on one’s own selfish interests”
i. Saul
Saul was adorned to be the first king of Israel; however, as his reign continued, his own selfish motives began to creep in his kingship.
When he “began to be more self-centered”, he began to lose the approval of God.
The wind of “being focused on one’s own selfish interests” blew strong to put off the light in him?
ii. The Pharisees and Scribes
The Pharisees and Scribes during the time of Jesus, insisted much on their selfish agenda in the imposition and following of the Laws.
When they “began to be more self-centered”, they began to lose the favour of God.
The wind of “being focused on one’s own selfish interests” blew strong to put off the light in them…
iii. Judas
Judas was chosen to be one of the Twelve in the mission of the Lord; but as time grew, he continued to feed his greed for money and wealth
When he “began to be more self-centered”, he began to lose the esteem of God.
The wind of “being focused on one’s own selfish interests” blew strong to put off the light in him…
- The wind of “false principles and ideologies”
i. People of Israel
The people of Israel had been blessed with the commandments of God. They, however, were dismayed at the delay of Moses on Mt Sinai, and instead got enamoured and attracted to false gods and especially to the deity of mammon and wealth.
When they “began to abandon the True Teaching and attached themselves to false beliefs”, they angered God and brought upon themselves the wrath of the Lord.
The wind of “false principles and ideologies” blew strong to put off the light in them…
ii. People of Galatians 1:6
St Paul accuses the people of Galatia, that were abandoning the Gospel which they first heard, and instead were being attracted to the pleasurable and false teachings of the false prophets.
When they “began to abandon the True Teaching and attached themselves to false beliefs”, they strayed away from the path of salvation.
The wind of “false principles and ideologies” blew strong to put off the light in them…
Let’s examine our lives…
Am I allowing the wind of “losing the focus from God” to put off the light in us?
Am I allowing the wind of “being focused on one’s own selfish interests” to put off the light in us?
Am I allowing the wind of “false principles and ideologies” to put off the light in us?
As the saying goes, “We can’t prevent birds from flying over our heads, but we can certainly prevent them from laying a nest on our heads!”
We cannot prevent these winds to rage and hit our lives…
… but we can certainly prevent them from blowing off the Light of Christ in us!
This strength comes from our determination, perseverance & commitment…
And above all, being united with Jesus, the Source of Light…
… in daily prayer
… frequent Sacraments
… constant nourishment with the Word
… and faithfulness to our daily duties of our vocation and life!
In our moments of failure and weaknesses, let us also have the courage to approach the Throne of God’s Mercy saying:
“Lord, sorry I have blown myself out!
Can you light me again?”
God Bless! Live Jesus!
Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
CHURCH – THE UNIVERSAL SACRAMENT OF SALVATION
The Greek word ‘mysterion’ was translated into Latin by two terms: “mystenum and sacramentum.”
In later usage, the term sacramentum emphasizes the visible sign of the hidden reality of salvation which was indicated by the term “mystenum.”
In this sense, Christ himself is the mystery of salvation: “For there is no other mystery of God, except Christ.”
The saving work of his holy and sanctifying humanity is the sacrament of salvation, which is revealed and active in the Church’s sacraments (which the Eastern Churches also call “the holy mysteries”).
The seven sacraments are the signs and instruments by which the Holy Spirit spreads the grace of Christ the head throughout the Church which is his Body.
The Church, then, both contains and communicates the invisible grace she signifies. It is in this analogical sense, that the Church is called a “sacrament.” (Cf. CCC # 770-771)
Reflection Capsules 