A LAMP TO MY FEET. A LIGHT FOR MY PATH.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Create in me a clean heart, O God,

and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Your presence,

and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

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– Psalm 51:10-11 (ESV)

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QUOTE…

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We are born, each of us, with a desire for good

and a lust for evil.

We are called to life

and attracted to death.

We hear: “Do good,”

and we respond: “Choose pleasure.”

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Sometimes when God reaches out to us

we disdain Him.

Even so, God does not forsake us.

His gracious pity shows itself in our lives

in abundance of mercy and compassion,

Looking upon the sorrows

of all who attempt to follow Him.

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He is with us to console and save our souls,

to prepare us for eternal life,

not eternal death.

His grace precedes and follows us,

so that we can, with passion,

receive and fulfill His words of life.

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– St Hildegard of Bingen

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Create in me a clean heart, O God!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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If we obey God’s commands,

then we are sure that we know Him.

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If we say that we know Him, but do not obey His commands,

we are liars and there is no truth in us.

But if we obey His word,

we are the ones whose love for God has really been made perfect.

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This is how we can be sure that we are in union with God:

if we say that we remain in union with God,

we should live just as Jesus Christ did.

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– 1 John 2:3-6 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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Many claim that they know God

and love Him

and that they are in union with Him,

substantiating their claim by going to Him with their woes

and constantly asking for His favours and graces.

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Then there are those who attend Sunday Mass somewhat begrudgingly,

because they regard God in the same manner they would some rich relative

who they don’t really visit out of love

but only because they fear they will be disinherited if they don’t!

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We must go to the Lord, by all means,

every Sunday and even more frequently if possible,

gladly, and as a sign of our love for Him.

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And loving God involves obeying His commandments,

acknowledging that they are there to help us through life.

Keeping the commandments is therefore a sign of true knowledge of God.

Knowing God is not merely an intellectual exercise,

nor can the immensity of God be grasped by our limited understanding.

Knowing God refers to something much simpler and more important:

knowing God means being united to Him by faith and love – by grace.

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Keeping the commandments is therefore absolutely necessary,

for we cannot love God with mere words,

but in truth and action

docilely accepting and following His direction.

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Above all, we Christians must identify our life with Christ’s.

Loving God is seeking to live like Christ lived (Christ should be our Mentor)

as we strive towards an everlasting glorious union with our Maker.

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About this need to live just as Jesus Christ did,

St Prosper asks this rhetorical question:

"…does that not mean giving up the comforts He gave up,

not being afraid of the kind of trials He bore,

teaching what He taught […],

persevering in helping even those who show no appreciation,

praying for one’s enemies,

being kind to evildoers,

serenely tolerating the proud?" .

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord Jesus, I love You.

I want to walk with You; be like You.

Lord, make me one with You.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
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They shall be like a tree planted by water,
sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes,
and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious,
and it does not cease to bear fruit.

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– Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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Let’s read it again:

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,
whose trust is the Lord.
They shall be like a tree planted by water,
sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes,
and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious,
and it does not cease to bear fruit.

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The Spirit is asking all of us

to draw strength from these verses

…and to have faith in the Lord

and to accept Him into our heart

that our life may be complete.

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QUOTE…

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“…to send out roots means to put one’s trust in God.

From Him we draw our life.

Without Him, we cannot truly live. […]

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Christian faith

is not only a matter of believing that certain things are true,

but above all a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

It is an encounter with the Son of God

that gives new energy to the whole of our existence.

When we enter into a personal relationship with Him,

Christ reveals our true identity

and, in friendship with Him,

our life grows towards complete fulfilment.”

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– Pope Benedict XVI

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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My Lord and my God, I trust in You.

Come, Lord, and take over my life.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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I love the Lord because He hears my voice
and my prayer for mercy.
Because He bends down to listen,
I will pray as long as I have breath!

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– Psalm 116:1-2 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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Do I believe that the Lord hears my voice and my prayers?

Do I believe that He listens to me intently,

like as if I was the only one who mattered to Him?

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Do I allow the Lord to do with me according to His will?

Do I carry on calling out to Him,

speaking to Him,

pleading with Him,

praising Him,

as well as thanking Him always

and in all circumstances, good and bad?

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If yes,

then the Lord is truly my God,

and my actions denote my faithfulness.

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If I am not constant in my prayers

and not inclined to pray as long as I have breath,

then perhaps I need to spend some time alone with Him

and ask Him to send His Holy Spirit upon me

to change my heart

and renew my spirit,

that I may go back to loving Him who is my Heavenly Father

– my Creator.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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I love You, Lord, because You hear my voice and my prayer for mercy, and because You bend down to listen,
Lord, I will pray as long as I have breath!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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“So fear the Lord

and serve him wholeheartedly…

Serve the Lord alone.

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But if you refuse to serve the Lord,

then choose today whom you will serve…

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But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

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– Joshua 24:14-15 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

Can I claim these words as my own?

Do I truly revere the Lord, my God, in all things;

by my words, thoughts and deeds?

Do I serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness,

or do I find myself selfishly and foolishly serving two masters?

When the going gets tough,

will I be strong enough in my faith to stand up and be counted

…as a follower of Christ’s teachings?

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, I want to serve You and You alone.

Help me, Lord, and give me strength, self-control and perseverance to always be faithful to Your teachings.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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He who did not spare His own Son,

but gave Him up for us all

– how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?

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– Romans 8:32 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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It is true

that as long as we are on this earth we cannot attain salvation,

but we are assured that we will attain it

precisely because God, in His supreme generosity and love for us,

and as a most tender Father,

will not withhold all the graces we need to obtain this happy outcome:

all that is needed is that we desire to receive this divine help.

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Nothing that happens to us can separate us from the Lord

– not fear of death or love of life,

not the bad angels or devils,

not the princes or the powers of this world,

nor the sufferings we undergo or which threaten us

nor the worst that might befall us.

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By giving Himself in His Son,

God has already given us everything.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Most loving and generous Father, I trust in Your divine providence

and I bow before You in thanksgiving.

Thank You, my God!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise Him,
my Saviour and my God.

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– Psalm 42:5 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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When, for whatever reason,

deep inside we feel discouraged, downcast, depressed, helpless…

then, like the Psalmist, we should speak to our soul

and encourage it to place all its hope in God, our Saviour.

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Place your feelings aside

and with determination praise Him,

because our faith reassures us

that the Lord is near to those who are discouraged;
and that He saves those who have lost all hope. (Ps 34:18)

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Our loving God cannot remain impassive

in the face of our cries for help.

When we make His mercy, truth and power, our refuge

then we are reassured that the God of our life,

and the Rock of our salvation,

will not forget us.

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We must never let go of Him

as we struggle against our despondency,

and the Lord will help us control our doubts and fears.

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As we entrust ourselves to God

and allow Him to lead us,

we know that…in His time…we shall overcome.

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QUOTE…

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“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

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– Our Lord Jesus Christ (Mat 11:28-30)

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Thank You, Lord, for always being so near.

You are my hope and You renew me. You give me life!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Whoever has the Son has life;

whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

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– 1 John 5:12 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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Do you believe Jesus when He tells you,

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life” 1 ?

Do you believe Jesus when He declares,

“I am the bread of life.

Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,

and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” 2 ?

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If you truly believe in Jesus

and, reassured by what He tells you about Himself

you gladly accept Him inside your heart

to lead you and guide you,

then whatever your circumstance,

you will surely make your own the Psalmists faithful cry:

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want!” 3

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Have faith, therefore, dear believer,

focus on Jesus

and entrust yourself entirely into His loving arms,

and you will find rest

and solace

and peace,

as you become filled with the hope of eternal life!

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With Jesus in your heart

your life and circumstances will have a new meaning and purpose

and you will realise that you truly lack nothing.

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1 Jn 14:6; 2 Jn 6:35; 3 Ps 23:1

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want!

Jesus, You are my life!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“Many who are first will be last,

and the last, first.”

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– Matthew 19:30 (JB)

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REFLECTION…

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So we think that we’ve made it!

We believe that are on the right track

and moving in the right direction.

We are good and holy…

and so many others aren’t.

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We had better think again,

because if that is what we think of ourselves,

and of others,

then we have certainly fallen into a trap

without even realising it.

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Spiritual self-satisfaction and pride

is a self-destruct button.

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Spiritual humility, on the other hand,

is a self-awareness

– an acknowledgment of our weaknesses

and of our volatile nature

…and of our great and constant need

for God’s counsel.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, remove my pride and fill me with Your Spirit.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes,
and I will observe it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
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Lead me in the path of Your commandments,
for I delight in it.
Turn my heart to Your decrees,
and not to selfish gain.
Turn my eyes from looking at vanities;
give me life in Your ways.

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– Psalm 119:33-37 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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How stiff and unyielding we can become

because of our pride

and our self-centeredness!

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How determined we can be

to hang on to earthly pleasures

and to achieve our worldly targets;

to live our own lives

and conduct our business

in our own manner

– allowing not even God, to have a say!

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True believers, on the other hand,

confide in God

and turn their hearts to His decrees

as they seek His counsel and direction

in everything they do

– in how they live their lives

and how they conduct their affairs.

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Am I prepared to let God into all the aspects of my life?

Am I truly willing to listen to God’s voice,

other than to my own?

Am I able to discern God’s voice from my own?

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Am I ready to bend

and to accept and do God’s will?

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Teach me, O God,

and bend my heart to Your will.

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