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

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TODAY’S WORD…

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With our unveiled faces reflecting,

like mirrors,

the brightness of the Lord,

we all grow brighter and brighter

as we are turned into the image that we reflect;

this is the work of the Lord who is Spirit.

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– 2 Corinthians 3:18 (JB)

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REFLECTION…

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What a joyous declaration this is!

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Just as Moses’s face reflected the splendour of God

after being with Him on Mount Sinai (see Exodus 34:29-35),

when we contemplate Christ in faith

we too will, as our life unfolds, reflect His glory.

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Moreover, whereas the radiance of Moses

was a passing thing,

ours will steadily increase.

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We are turned into the image that we reflect,

and we become increasingly identified with Christ,

through docility

and submission to the influence of His grace on our souls.

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QUOTE…

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“…it is the Holy Spirit who,

with His inspirations,

gives a supernatural tone to our thoughts,

desires and actions.

It is He who leads us to receive Christ’s teaching

and to assimilate it in a profound way.

It is He who gives us the light

by which we perceive our personal calling

and the strength to carry out all that God expects of us.

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If we are docile to the Holy Spirit,

the image of Christ will be formed more and more fully in us ,

and we will be brought closer, every day,

to God the Father.”

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– St. Josemaria Escrivá

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Holy Spirit, come into my heart,

take over my soul,

fill me with Your light,

and make me more like Jesus.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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The teaching of Your word gives light,
so even the simple can understand.

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– Psalm 119:130 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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You don’t have to be a scholar to understand the Bible,

because God’s word is for all

and it reveals itself…to all…

to all who approach it with humility and an open heart.

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This does not mean that we shouldn’t ‘study’ Scripture,

but that is not where wisdom really starts.

Wisdom starts when we approach the Bible

knowing that God uses His words to open our mind,

to speak to us,

to lead us,

no matter our circumstances in life.

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When we embrace the Gospel with faith,

what we receive are amazing insights into God’s plan for us,

insights that the proud and arrogantly wise refuse to accept.

It is because of its very simplicity

that the Gospel never ceases confounding and amazing the wisdom of this earth.

[*]

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Here I am O Lord, fill me with the light of Your truth!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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‘This is what the Lord says,

He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it

– the Lord is His name:

“Call to me and I will answer you

and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

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– Jeremiah 33:2-3 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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Our main ground for hope is the power of the Lord:

He is creator of all things,

He rules over everything,

and He is the source of our salvation.

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The Lord is good

and to those who go to Him in faith,

He will reveal His great love and compassion

and will lead them

to begin to understand His plan for those who seek to do His will.

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QUOTE…

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“God…wants to communicate His own divine life to the men He freely created,

in order to adopt them

as His sons in His only-begotten Son.

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By revealing Himself,

God wishes to make them capable of responding to Him,

and of knowing Him

and of loving Him far beyond their own natural capacity.”

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– The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 52)

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Here I am, Lord – You know everything about me.

Here I am, Lord – unworthy and undeserving though I am,

I wish to know You more and to love You beyond mere words.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Since you have been raised to new life with Christ,

set your sights on the realities of heaven,

where Christ sits in the place of honour at God’s right hand.

Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you.

Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy,

for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behaviour, slander, and dirty language.

Don’t lie to each other,

for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.

…Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us.

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– Colossians 3:1-2,5,8-11 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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Those who try to seek holiness by imitating Jesus

…will be people full of hope;

they will be optimistic and happy people;

and after their death they will share in the glory of the Lord:

they will hear Jesus tell them,

"Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little;

I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your Master." (Mat 25:21)

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, You are all that matters.

Lord, take away from me all that offends You; rid me of my sinful nature.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“I am the bread of life.

Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,

and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

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– John 6:35 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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Going to Jesus means believing in Him,

for it is through faith that we approach our Lord.

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Jesus uses the analogy of food and drink – both essential for the body –

to teach that in Him we find, in abundance,

all that is essential for the well-being of our soul

– all that is noble and righteous and moral and good.

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In Jesus we find eternal life.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, You are all I want. You are all I need.

Lord, remove from me all that keeps me away from You.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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In You, Lord, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In Your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
turn Your ear to me and save me.
Be my rock of refuge,
to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
for You are my rock and my fortress.

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– Psalm 71:1-3 (NIV)

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You are my refuge and my shield;

I have put my hope in Your word.

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– Psalm 119:114 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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There is a secure place

which is always open to those who seek love and truth,

a place that has withstood the ravages of time.

That place, that fortress, that rock

is the Lord,

and that is where the believer finds peace, eternal promise and joy.

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It requires effort and determination to get there,

but embracing God’s Word

and constantly calling upon the Lord to lead us

and to shield us and protect us,

will ensure that we do.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, You are my hope.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Please, God, rescue me!

Come quickly, Lord, and help me..

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– Psalm 70:1 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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We must never be afraid

to express ourselves, our fears and our sorrow

to the Lord.

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We must never be afraid

to express our heart before the Lord;

our grief at our own weaknesses.

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We must not be ashamed to cry:

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Please, God, rescue me!

Come quickly, Lord, and help me.

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My Lord and my God,

rescue me from my troubles;

rescue me from myself.

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Come quickly, O Lord, my God,

I love You

and I need You by my side.

Please, God, rescue me!

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Please, God, rescue me!

Come quickly, Lord, and help me;rescue me from myself.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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“Seven times a day I praise You…”

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– Psalm 119:164 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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If I believe in God

and in His great love for me

and if I trust fully in Him

and He is everything to me,

then surely I should praise Him seven times a day, at least;

surely I should praise Him all day long

through my words, my deeds and even my thoughts!

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Who else deserves my continuous praise if not my God?

Is there anyone or anything in my life that deserves such praise?

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Am I constant in praising my God?

Am I consistent in declaring His greatness

and in declaring and demonstrating my love for Him?

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Praising God constantly

is not only about

raising my mind and heart to Him throughout my day, whatever the circumstances,

but it is also about

living in a way that reflects my love for Him:

caring for others,

being just,

using my talents to do good for others,

helping the poor…

All these are valid ways by which I can praise God ceaselessly.

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Perhaps I need to change my busy schedule

and rearrange my diary

to fit in some appointments with the Lord, my God, my All!

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Perhaps?

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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My Lord, my God, my All,

let my love for You be more, much more, than mere words.

Lord, I want to love You and praise You with all my mind, my heart, my soul and my strength. Amen.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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I will never forget Your commandments,

for by them You give me life.

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– Psalm 119:93 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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I must never forget the Lord’s commandments,

I must never neglect them,

always keep them in my mind,

respecting them,

treasuring them,

obeying them

…because they give me life – life everlasting!

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He lays down His Law, His commands, because He loves me

and for no other reason.

He loves me to the extent

that He even sent His only Son

to come and teach me and show me the way.

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Jesus lived His life for me – as the perfect example to follow.

He then died for me and redeemed my soul,

setting me free,

and presenting me with a choice.

And I must choose:

whether I want to live with Him, forever,

or not!

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, I will never forget Your commandments,

for by them You give me life.,

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TODAY’S WORD…

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What sorrow awaits you who lie awake at night,
thinking up evil plans.
You rise at dawn and hurry to carry them out,
simply because you have the power to do so.
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When you want a piece of land,
you find a way to seize it.
When you want someone’s house,
you take it by fraud and violence.
You cheat a man of his property,
stealing his family’s inheritance…

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– Micah 2:1-2 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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There are many

who claim to be Christians and “believers”

but whose actions go contrary

to God’s command that we should love others as ourselves.

In truth, such people only love themselves

and nobody else.

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Their covetousness,

their greed,

and their claim to power

makes them scheme, night and day,

on how to rob and cheat and have more

– even if it is to the serious detriment of others,

including the poorer members of society.

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We would do well

not to forget that the fifth and the tenth commandments

prohibit not only violence and injustice,

but also the coveting of other’s belongings.

Such inordinate desire for what belongs to others

is very much at the root of theft, robbery and fraud,

which the seventh commandment very clearly forbids.

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As “believers” we would do well to remember

our Lord Jesus Christ’s warning:

“For you will be treated as you treat others.” (Mt 7:2)

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, please forgive me

and help me recollect whatever I may have cheated from others,

to give it all back…in Your name.

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