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

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Do not love this world nor the things it offers you,

for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.

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For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure,

a craving for everything we see,

and pride in our achievements and possessions.

These are not from the Father, but are from this world.

And this world is fading away,

along with everything that people crave.

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But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.

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– 1 John 2:15-17 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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Here, the term "world" has the pejorative sense of enemy of God and man.

It refers to the kingdom of sin

and includes everything that is opposed to God.

Following Christ involves a radical choice: "No one can serve two masters." (Mt 6:24)

Craving for physical pleasure;

craving for everything we see;

pride in our achievements and possessions

– these are signs of a worldly life

and these three summarise everything opposed to fidelity to the love of God.

Craving for physical pleasure is not limited to disordered sensuality.

It also means softness, laziness bent on the easiest, most pleasurable way,

any apparent shortcut, even at the expense of fidelity to God […].

We can and ought to fight always to overcome this obsession with physical pleasure,

because, if we are humble, we will always be granted the grace of our Lord.

Craving for everything we see, is that deep-seated materialism

that leads us to appreciate only what we can touch.

Such eyes are glued to earthly things

and, consequently, they are blind to supernatural realities,

and they view everything they see – other people, the circumstances of our life and of our age –

in a merely human way.

"Then the eyes of our soul grow dull.

Reason proclaims itself capable of understanding everything, without the aid of God. […].

Seduced by this temptation, the human mind appoints itself the centre of the universe,

being thrilled with the prospect that ‘you will be like God’ (Gen 3:5).

So filled with love for itself, it turns its back on the love of God.” (St. Josemaria Escriva)

Pride in our achievements and possessions

– the third enemy to which our existence can fall prey unconditionally.

"It’s not merely a question of passing thoughts of vanity or self-love,

it’s a state of general conceit.

Let’s not deceive ourselves, for this is the worst of all evils, the root of every false step.

The fight against pride has to be a constant battle,

to such an extent that someone once said that pride only disappears twenty-four hours after each of us has died.

It is the arrogance of the Pharisee whom God cannot transform

because he finds in Him the obstacle of self-sufficiency.

It is the haughtiness which leads to despising others,

to lording it over them,

to mistreating them.

For ‘when pride comes, then comes disgrace’ (Pr 11:2)"(St. Josemaria Escriva)

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, I give You my mind, my heart, my body, my soul.

Remove my cravings and my self-centred pride

and let me focus only on You, for You alone are my Lord!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“Do not be worried and upset.

Believe in God and believe also in me.

There are many rooms in my Father’s house,

and I am going to prepare a place for you.

I would not tell you this if it were not so.

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And after I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come back and take you to myself,

so that you will be where I am.”

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– John 14:1-3 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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So much happens around us that saddens us

and, sometimes, even threatens and shakes our faith.

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But Jesus’ words console us and cheer us up:

through His work of redemption,

Christ has prepared a dwelling-place in heaven

for those of us who believe in Him

and who stay faithful to Him,

promising us a share in His glory.

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The return which Jesus refers to

includes His Second Coming (Parousia) at the end of the world

as well as His meeting with each and every soul after death:

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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I believe in You, O Lord my Saviour, and I follow You with joy in my heart.

Lead me, that I may one day share in Your glory.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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…for the Christian Family

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As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,

clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness,

humility, meekness, and patience.

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Bear with one another

and, if anyone has a complaint against another,

forgive each other;

just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

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Above all, clothe yourselves with love,

which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,

to which indeed you were called in the one body.

And be thankful.

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Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly;

teach and admonish one another in all wisdom;

and with gratitude in your hearts

sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.

And whatever you do, in word or deed,

do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

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Wives, be subject to your husbands,

as is fitting in the Lord.

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Husbands, love your wives

and never treat them harshly.

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Children, obey your parents in everything,

for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord.

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Fathers, do not provoke your children,

or they may lose heart.

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– Colossians 3:12-21 (NRSV)

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Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
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your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
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Thus shall the man be blessed
who fears the Lord.

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– Psalm 128:3-4 (NRSV)

Those who honour their father atone for sins,
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and those who respect their mother are like those who lay up treasure.
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Those who honour their father will have joy in their own children,
and when they pray they will be heard.
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Those who respect their father will have long life,
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and those who honour their mother obey the Lord;
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they will serve their parents as their masters.

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– Sirach 3:3-7 (NRSV)

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For kindness to a father will not be forgotten,
and will be credited to you against your sins;
in the day of your distress it will be remembered in your favour;
like frost in fair weather, your sins will melt away.
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Whoever forsakes a father is like a blasphemer,
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and whoever angers a mother is cursed by the Lord.

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– Sirach 3:14-16 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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When I truly believe

that God’s Word is a lamp to my feet

and a light for my path,

I will put any selfish pride aside

and, as I read His Word with humility and faith,

my heart will know that what He is telling me is the truth

and that He says it out of His great love for me.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Speak to me and to my loved ones, Lord,

make Your Word a lamp to our feet and a light for our path.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise His Holy Name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things He does for me.

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– Psalm 103:1-2 (NLT)

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QUOTE…

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“Praise the Lord with all that you are yourselves,

for not only your tongue and your voice should praise the Lord,

but also your conscience, your life and your deeds…

If we never stop living a good life,

we are praising the Lord unceasingly.”

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– St. Augustine

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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O Lord, my God, with my whole heart, I praise Your Holy Name!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Blessed is anyone who endures temptation.

Such a one has stood the test

and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

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– James 1:12 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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Enduring and overcoming temptation

brings a blessing from God,

even the crown of life – eternal life –

and “we will be like Him,

for we will see Him as He is.” (1 Jn 3:2)

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As followers of Christ,

we Christians should not be depressed or cowed

by the difficulties which God permits us to experience;

on the contrary, we should see them as a series of tests

which, with God’s help, we should surmount to receive the reward of heaven.

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“We suffer with Him

so that we may also be glorified with Him” (Rom 8:17)

and, upon redemption,

we shall be transformed into the likeness of the Lord,

who is the Source of all purity.

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But, meanwhile, all of us men and women of faith,

must recall our Lord’s words,

that “it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher,

and the slave like the master.”

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QUOTE…

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"The Lord does not allow His followers to experience these trials and temptations

unless it be for their greater good. […]

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Companions in adversity and later in the Kingdom,

you should strive to fight manfully

when you meet opposition that would separate you from God,

for He is your help here on earth

and your reward in Heaven"

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– St. John of Avila

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, my Lord, help me in my struggle against selfishness, temptation and pride

– for I want to be like You

and wish to be with You forever!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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For a Child has been born for us,
a Son given to us;
authority rests upon His shoulders;
and He is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

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– Isaiah 9:6 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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…and this Child is Jesus.

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This Christmas Day, let us stop for just a very few minutes

and join Mary, Joseph and the Angels

as they stand in awe of this beautiful and very special new-born child,

and let our heart and feelings combine with theirs as we sing “Isn’t He beautiful…” << click on the title

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QUOTE…

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“For this I was born,

and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.

Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

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– Jesus Christ our Lord (Jn 18:37)

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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My Lord Jesus,

You are beautiful,

You are wonderful,

You are my Saviour,

and I love and worship You!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.

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– Isaiah 61:11 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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What an exceedingly beautiful picture

– that on the coming of the Messiah,

truth and righteousness springs up and abounds

just like a garden comes to life when the earth is watered with rain.

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Like the shoot, or the young and tender plant as it comes up from the earth

– that which first appears from the seed –

so God’s great work of salvation breaks out and appears

and righteousness springs forth when Christ is born!

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That spirit of righteousness abounds over all the earth

as men and women of goodwill celebrate

and joyfully praise the bountiful love of God.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Glory be to You, O Heavenly Father,

for loving us so much!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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The Lord is good and upright.

He shows the path to those who stray,

He guides the humble in the right path,

He teaches His way to the poor.

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His ways are faithfulness and love

for those who keep His covenant and law.

The Lord’s friendship is for those who revere Him;

to them He reveals His covenant.

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– Psalm 25:8-9,10,14 (JB)

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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O Lord, my God, come to my help

and lead me along the right path.

Let Your face shine on me, and I shall be saved.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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“This is the child I prayed for,

and the Lord granted me what I asked Him.

Now I make him over to the Lord

for the whole of his life.

He is made over to the Lord.”

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– 1 Samuel 1:27-28 (JB)

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REFLECTION…

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Hannah’s touching dedication of her beloved son, Samuel, to God

is a beautiful act of faith

– she offered back to God,

what came through Him in the first place.

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This is such a lesson for me

I who have so many blessings,

so many favours,

so many gifts received from God,

which I should recall with deep gratitude,

and give Him all thanks and praise for.

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In what would be a most loving and liberating act of faith,

which would fully reflect a readiness to totally abandon myself to the Lord,

would I be prepared to humbly entrust back to God

all the good that He has given me,

all my possessions,

all my loved ones?

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If we truly have the conviction

that God is omnipotent, all knowing and all loving,

then we should entrust ourselves, our loved ones, and our future

entirely back to Him,

so that His will…and only His will…be done!

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, You gave me all that I have, and it is Yours to take away.

May Your Name be praised.

May Your will be done!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Then Mary said,

“Here am I, the servant of the Lord;

let it be with me according to your word.”

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– Luke 1:38 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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Our Lady yields to God’s will

with prompt obedience – unreservedly.

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Mary, combining humility and obedience,

responds perfectly to God’s will.

She, shows us how we are to accept unequivocally

and trust fully in His plans for us.

Mary teaches us how to say “yes” to the Lord.

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AMEN!…

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"What is the word,

which in the language spoken by Mary,

corresponds most closely to her expression of acceptance?
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When a Jew wished to say to God, "yes, so be it,"

he said "Amen!"

If we try to go back to the exact word

that came from Mary’s lips,

we arrive precisely at the word "Amen."
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Amen is a Hebrew word,

the root of which means to be solid, to be certain;

it was used in the liturgy

as a response of faith to the Word of God. […].

It indicates faith and obedience at the same time;

it recognises that what God says is true

and one submits to it.

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It is to say "Yes" to God.”

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.– from an Advent reflection by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Amen, my Lord, my God, Thy will be done!

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