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

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TODAY’S WORD…

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The attitude you should have

is the one that Christ Jesus had.

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– Philippians 2:5 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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We are called to live in harmony with the mind of Christ,

to have the same attitude,

the same sentiments

– yes, with the same mind of Christ.

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To begin with,

we need to cultivate a strong, intimate and personal friendship with the only Teacher;

seeking more and more

to know and assimilate the thoughts and sentiments that were His.

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We need to never stop wanting to get to know Jesus more

so that we can become more like Him.

And we can only do that through spending quality time with Him,

reading His Gospels,

listening out for His voice,

and allowing Him to enter into our heart and to take over.

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The more deeply you know Him,

the more strongly will you be united to Him.

The more we get to know Jesus,

the more we realise how much we need to renew ourselves,

and the stronger we will strive to attain His same attitude of heart.

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To have the same sentiments of Christ means

to think like Him,

love like Him,

see like Him,

walk like Him.

It means to do what He did and with His same attitude,

with the sentiments of humility and selflessness,

and of detachment and generosity.

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No matter how rough life can be;

no matter the situations we may face,

may we always look at Jesus with love and great hope,

and strive in all circumstances to make His attitude of heart our own.

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QUOTES…

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“Learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.”

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– Our Lord Jesus Christ (Mat 11:29)

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“It is not only and not simply a matter of following Jesus’ example, as something moral,

but of involving the whole of one’s existence in His way of thinking and acting.

Prayer must lead to an ever more profound knowledge and loving union with the Lord,

in order to think, to act and to love like Him,

in Him

and for Him.

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To practice this,

to learn the mind of Christ,

is the way of Christian life.”

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– Pope Benedict XVI

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“To be Christian, in fact, means:

‘to have the same sentiments that were in Christ Jesus,

sentiments of humility and of self-giving,

of detachment and generosity.’”

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– Pope Francis

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, my Lord, my God, my Teacher, my Saviour,

create in me a new heart and make me more like You!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

‘Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.”

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– John 10:7 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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Christ, the Good Shepherd, calls Himself “the gate.”

He is the only gate

through which shepherds and sheep alike

safely enter and exit the sheepfold.

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He is “the gate”

because He is committed to protect and care for us.

He is “the gate” that only opens up

for the passage and communication of goodness and truth.

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More importantly, Jesus is “the gate”

because it is through Him that we have access to a rich and full life;

because it is through Him, through His words and through what He does,

that we find the way to heaven.

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What greater security have we

than having the Lord Jesus between us and evil?

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He is our salvation

and in Him we place our full trust.

He leads us to life everlasting.

He is both “the gate” and the Shepherd,

He is all things.

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But, we have to be willing to listen out for His voice

and to listen intently to what He is telling me.

As hectic as life may sometimes get,

we need to remember to set aside time to pray

and to truly listen to Jesus

and to His message – to His Word, which gives us life!

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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My Lord Jesus, lead me and show me the way.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“I am the good shepherd;

I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”

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– John 10:14 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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The more we come to know Jesus,

the more we recognise Him as our Shepherd

– our Good Shepherd,

the One who died for us in order to save us,

the One who provides us with all the spiritual nourishment we need,

the One who gives us secure shelter from the storms of life;

the One who leads us safely to that promised place in eternity.

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This is a world full of voices, sights and sounds vying with one another,

many trying to attract our attention to material things;

others with some hidden and potentially dangerous agenda;

some slyly seeking to undermine our faith

by stimulating our senses

and redirecting our focus from the Lord and from what He teaches us

and insisting that we focus on ourselves.

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With God’s grace, we are able to discern these voices, sights and sounds

and, having come to know Jesus,

we recognise Him and His voice above the worldly mayhem,

and we gladly listen to Him

because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life:

the One who has shown His love for us by laying down His life for us.

He is the Good Shepherd.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, my Shepherd, I want to follow You.

Help me hear and listen to Your voice and do only as You say,

and go only where You take me.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News to the whole creation.

The one who believes and is baptised will be saved;

but the one who does not believe will be condemned.”

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– Mark 16:15-16 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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It is true that God acts directly on each person’s soul through grace,

but it must also be said that it is Christ’s will,

as expressed here and elsewhere in the Gospels,

that every baptised and professed Christian

should be an instrument or vehicle of salvation for others.

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"On all Christians, accordingly, rests the noble obligation

of working to bring all throughout the whole world

to hear and accept the divine message of salvation." (Vatican II)

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This is the mission that Christ gives each and every one of us to carry out in His name:

that we are to take Him to others;

that we are to spread the Good News.

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Jesus emphasises the importance of this mission He gives us

when He encouragingly promises,

“I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others,

the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.” (Lk 12:8)

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So how do we set about carrying out the Lord’s will?

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Among the many ways of spreading the Good News today,

is one that so many of us already use to share news about ourselves

and about whatever is happening around us that interests us: facebook.

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So, may we suggest

that you consider using facebook every now and again,

whenever a passage from Scripture touches you so much that you feel you should share it with others.

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You can make use of facebook, for example,

to share particular issues of the “Lamp…”.

And no, we are not blowing our own trumpet when we suggest this,

we are blowing God’s!

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Please think about it,

pray about it,

accept and embrace God’s Word

and then gladly share it…share Him…with others.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, thank You for Your Word – help me live it.

Lord, thank You for Your Word – help me share it gladly with others.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood live in me,

and I live in them.”

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– John 6:56 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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When Jesus says

“Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood live in me,

and I live in them”, He really means it.

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When we partake of the Holy Communion, Jesus lives in us,

just as we live in Jesus.

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For all the troubles and distress we face, Jesus also bears it with us

and, through His love and healing,

He will give us the strength to overcome.

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Jesus is our Saviour, our Refuge, our Rock, and our Friend.

He protects us and save us…because He lives in us.

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SONG…

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Ask the Lord, in song and prayer, to come and live in you;

tell Him how you much you need Him;

how you long for Him.

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In your heart, promise Him that you will go and receive Him in Holy Communion as often as you can

…and He will lovingly reassure you that when you receive Him in faith and love,

He will come and live in you

and He will give you strength

and you will rise on wings like the eagle’s.

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Please click here for the song >>>

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, my Saviour, my Refuge, my Rock, my Friend, I long for You.

Come, Jesus, and live in me!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live for ever.

This bread is my flesh,

which I will give for the life of the world.”

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– John 6:51 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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Christ made it possible for us to continue to be nourished by Him

as we proceed with on our pilgrimage through this world

and as we look forward to reunite ourselves to Him forever.

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Communion is that Sacrament, that wonderful banquet,

at which Christ gives of Himself.

This Holy Sacrament is available to all who are humble of heart,

adverse to sin,

and in a state of grace – living in keeping with what Christ taught.

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When we receive Communion,

the bonds of love between us and Christ are strengthened.

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When we receive Holy Communion,

we are sharing in the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross,

where He gave His body – His flesh – up for us

obtaining our redemption and everlasting life.

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This is why Communion is described as being

that wonderful banquet,

in which we partake of Christ;

we remember His sufferings;

our minds are filled with His grace;

and we receive a pledge of the glory that is to be ours.

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Amen!

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QUOTE…

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"You come to me

and unite Yourself intimately to me under the form of nourishment.

Your Blood now runs in mine;

Your Soul, Incarnate God, compenetrates mine,

giving courage and support.

What miracles! Who would have ever imagined such!"
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– St. Maximilian Kolbe

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, nourish me with Your love!

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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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Taste and see how good the Lord is!
The one who takes refuge in Him is truly happy! (Ps 34:8)

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Those who are close to the Lord,

who have a personal relationship with Him,

who call upon Him every day of their lives

and in every moment – good or bad –

this is what they lovingly and faithfully declare:

“Taste and see how good the Lord is,

He is truly the Bread of Life!”

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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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Those who go to Jesus will never be hungry or thirsty,

because He is the one who faithfully meets all our noblest needs and aspirations.

He is the one who brings incomparable inner joy to all who take refuge in Him.

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For those of us who believe in Him,

for those of us who trust in Him,

Jesus is always there

to help us with all our anxieties;

to calm our minds;

and to generously fill our hearts with hope.

He is trulythe Bread of Life!

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, without You I hunger, without You I thirst.

With You as my Shepherd, I have all that I need!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus answered,

“I have already told you, but you would not believe me.

The deeds I do by my Father’s authority speak on my behalf;

but you will not believe, for you are not my sheep.

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My sheep listen to my voice;

I know them, and they follow me.

I give them eternal life, and they shall never die.

No one can snatch them away from me.”

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– John 10:25-28 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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Here Jesus was replying to those who were questioning him with scorn and malicious intent;

to those who were determined to discredit and dishonour Him;

to those who wanted to get rid of Him once and for all

because, among other things, He appeared to be messing up their self-centred worldly plans.

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You will not believe, for you are not my sheep.

There are those who feel threatened by Jesus

because He only speaks the truth.

These are the ones who refused to believe and to listen to Jesus

because His code of behaviour and ethics did not coincide with theirs.

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So what about me, am I one of Jesus’ faithful “sheep”?

Is He my Shepherd in whom I believe and trust totally?

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Do I listen to Jesus’ voice and follow Him faithfully,

or do I pick and choose depending on what suits me most in my circumstances?

If it is the latter, then I can hardly claim to be one of His sheep.

If it is the latter, then I had better look deeper into myself

and decide if I want Him as my Lord.

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My sheep listen to my voice;

I know them, and they follow me.

I give them eternal life, and they shall never die.

Faith and eternal life cannot be merited by our own efforts:

they are a gift of God.

But the Lord does not deny anyone grace to believe and be saved,

because He “wants everyone to be saved and to come to know the Truth." (1 Tim 2:4).

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If we avoid receiving the gift of faith,

then our unbelief is blameworthy.

But when do not oppose divine grace

we will come to believe in Jesus.

We will be known to and loved by Him;

we will be under His protection

and, with the help of His grace, will remain faithful.

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It is true that in this world we who seek to be faithful will have to strive

and that in the course of striving we will sustain wounds;

but if we stay united to the Good Shepherd

nothing and no one will snatch Christ’s sheep from Him!

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Ultimately, our hope that God will grant us final perseverance

is not based on our strength but on God’s mercy.

But it is this hope that should always motivate us to strive to respond to grace

and to be more faithful to the demands of our faith.

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QUOTE…

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"I can see, thanks to the light of the sun;

but if I close my eyes, I cannot see:

this is no fault of the sun, it is my own fault,

because by closing my eyes, I prevent the sunlight from reaching me"

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– St. Thomas Aquinas

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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My Lord, You are my Shepherd.

Grant me the grace to always and faithfully follow You.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Keep me from deceitful ways;
be gracious to me and teach me Your law.
I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I have set my heart on Your laws.

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– Psalm 119:29-30 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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It is when we embrace Jesus’ teachings and walk in His way,

that we can experience His gracious and redeeming love.

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The Spirit helps us recognise the deceitful ways of the world,

and as we repent and melt in sorrow for our sin,

we pour out our soul before God

and express our growing desire to learn more from Him and about Him,

and resolve to only follow His Way.

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Those who know and love the Law of the Lord,

grow in their realisation that being faithful to Him

is the only Way to true happiness.

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Those who know and love the Law of the Lord

yearn to know more about it;

to be true to it;

to love it better

…and God, by His Spirit, will give wisdom

and enlarge the hearts of His people,

who will then have the strength to press forward.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, I do not want to hurt You any more than I already have – I have chosen to be faithful.

Forgive me, Lord, and never stop teaching me Your ways.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Let the light of Your face shine on us, O Lord!

You have put gladness in my heart […].
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I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
for You alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

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– Psalm 4:6b-8 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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You have put gladness in my heart.

Such is the joy, peace and sense of security

that the Lord bestows on those who seek His face

and rely fully on Him

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In times of external affliction

God responds by giving inner peace to those who seek Him.

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As He shines His face on those who believe and trust in Him,

their burdens are made lighter

and they can lie down and sleep in peace

– in the peace and safety that only the Lord can bring.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Thank You for the gladness you put in my heart, O Lord.

Shine on me and my loved ones, Jesus; shine on us!

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