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

TODAY’S WORD…

Jesus asked, “Would anyone light a lamp and then put it under a basket or under a bed? Of course not! A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.”

– Mark 4:21

REFLECTION…

“A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light will shine.” Here, Jesus is stressing the importance of proclaiming our faith, and how it should not be kept hidden. Jesus also tells us, “What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear!” (Mt 10:27)

The way we live, and act, and speak, and love, and care for others – this is how we give effective witness and draw people to God. This is why Jesus teaches, “Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Mt 5:16)

QUOTE…

“I see now that true charity consists in bearing with the faults of those about us, never being surprised at their weaknesses, but edified at the least sign of virtue.

I see above all that charity must not remain hidden in the bottom of our hearts: ‘nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.’ It seems to me that this lamp is the symbol of charity; it must shine out not only to cheer those we love best but all in the house.” – St. Therese of Lisieux

PRAYER…

Lord God,

Your Word is a lamp to my feet,

and a light for my path.

Lord I pray

that this fire You placed in my heart will never extinguish,

and that I will keep stoking it with Your Word.

Lord, I pray

that Your light will intensify in me,

so that I will never be able to keep it hidden.

Amen.

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TODAY’S WORD…

Here is a saying that you can rely on and nobody should doubt: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I myself am the greatest of them.

– 1 Timothy 1:15

REFLECTION…

The point being emphasised here is that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”. St. Paul condenses into very few words God’s plan for the redemption of mankind, which is in fact one of the basic truths of faith and appears in the Creed: “For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven”.

Christ came to save us from the only evil which can separate us from God – sin. By His victory over sin, Christ gave men and women the honour of being sons and daughters of God. This new character and status equips us to light up the world around us with the brightness of our Christian lives.

If we really commit ourselves to live according to the heart of Jesus Christ, we will realise that we have been sent to share the Good News with fervour and love. We will also have the clear realisation that we ourselves are sinners and that we need to trust in the mercy of God, more and more every day.

QUOTE…

“The mercy of God is infinite and, according to the Gospel, even if our sins were infinite, His mercy is yet greater than our sins.”  – St. Francis of Assisi

PRAYER…

My Lord of mercy,

thank You for Your infinite and unconditional love.

Thank You for all You went through to save me.

Forgive me for the times I act in ways

not worthy of a true Christian, who claims to love You.

Lord, thank You for Your saving grace,

and for opening my eyes to the truth.

Lord, fill me with fervour,

with that sense of urgency,

to share Your love and goodness with others.

For this I pray with all my heart.

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TODAY’S WORD…

Looking at those who sat around him, Jesus said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

– Mark 3:34-35

REFLECTION…

We need to slowly absorb what Jesus is telling us here…because it is so awesome! We truly must properly reflect on Jesus’ remarkable statement, so as not to miss the magnitude of His generous promise.

“Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Yes, if we do God’s will, much in the same way that Jesus did the will of the Father, we will merit to be considered as close and most intimate members of Jesus’ family, and we will share in His life accordingly.

What a great and gracious privilege!

QUOTE…

“Everyone who does the will of the Father, that is to say, who obeys Him, is a brother or sister of Christ, because he is like Him who fulfilled the will of His Father. But he who not only obeys but converts others, begets Christ in them, and thus becomes like the Mother of Christ” – St. Thomas

PRAYER…

My Jesus, my Lord and my God,

I so want to be part of Your immediate family,

one of Your siblings

to share so intimately in Your life;

and to have You daily in mine.

Lord, hold my hand and teach me

and lead me to do Your will.

Help me, guide me, strengthen me,

that I will keep Your Commandments.

Remove from me all that is not from You,

and help me become more like You,

and worthy of belonging to Your family.

.

For this I pray with all my heart. Amen.

TODAY’S WORD…

Put things in order, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

– 2 Corinthians 13:11

REFLECTION…

We are exhorted to be united in spirit and to live in harmony and peace. When Christians love each other they have reason to expect that the God of love will be with them. When Christians live in peace, they may expect that the God of peace will dwell with them.

On the other hand, in conflict and discord we have no reason to expect His presence. It is only when we are willing to lay aside all bitterness, that we may expect the God of peace to abide in us.

Where neither peace nor love is to be found, there God cannot be.

QUOTE…

“’Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you’, for God is a God of love and a God of peace, and in these He takes His delight. It is love that will give you peace and remove every evil…”

– St. John Chrysostom

PRAYER…

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not

so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen.

[The Peace Prayer of St. Francis]

TODAY’S WORD…

Lord, make me know Your ways.

Lord, teach me Your paths.

Make me walk in Your truth, and teach me:

for You are God my Saviour.

– The Grail Psalms – Ps 24:4-5

REFLECTION…

We believe in God, we acknowledge Him, we love Him, we seek to obey His commandments, we contemplate on His Word, and yet……and yet there are times when, for whatever reason, we feel lost – when we cannot find the answer; when we feel alone and afraid.

That is when, if we truly believe in Him, rather than risk getting lost in the rough terrain of life, we call out to God to show us the way out, and to lead us through back on to His path.

PRAYER…

Lord, make me know Your ways.

Lord, teach me Your paths.

Make me walk in Your truth, and teach me:

for You are God my Saviour.

TODAY’S WORD…

Know then in your heart that as a parent disciplines a child so the Lord your God disciplines you. Therefore keep the commandments of the Lord your God, by walking in His ways and by fearing Him.

– Deuteronomy 8:5-6

REFLECTION…

With us…at times…God acts like that loving and caring parent who chastises a child: unwillingly, but forced by necessity; mercifully; moderately; and so as to make us stronger. God is our caring Father who exudes love and who, for that same reason, disciplines us to mould and strengthen our character and our resolve as we go through life seeking to reach our ultimate destination.

Much in the same manner as little children love their father, we should love, revere, and respect God, our Father; fear offending Him; be in awe of His majesty; walk in the ways He directs; and always seek out His voice.

QUOTE…

“Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline? If you do not have that discipline in which all children share, then you are illegitimate and not His children.”

– St. Paul. Letter to the Hebrews 12:7-8

PRAYER…

Abba, I love You.

Thank You for loving me so.

Guide me, Father,

teach me,

remind me,

strengthen me,

mould me

…and guide me to do Your will.

Amen.

TODAY’S WORD…

“Before they call, I will answer.”

– Isaiah 65:24

REFLECTION…

“Before they call, I will answer”Ever watchful, God foresees our necessities and, in His providence and grace, He makes a way and arranges to grant favours long before we ask them off Him. He grants us those favours and blessings that are, ultimately, for our good, and are in accordance with His divine plan for us.

So numerous, also, are the blessings and comforts which we never did directly ask for, and which we have nevertheless received, through God’s loving grace. There is so much that God blesses us with! God is ever so attentive to our needs; so caring, so ready to anticipate them! So rich is His benevolence in providing for us!

God is truly great!

PRAYER…

Father in heaven, O most caring God,

thank You for all You provide;

for Your loving kindness towards me;

for Your generosity throughout the years.

Forgive me, Lord,

for the times when I took for granted all that I received;

for the times I never thanked You;

for the times I wanted more and sulked when it did not happen.

Forgive me, Lord,

for whenever I gave my quest for more, precedence over my love for You.

Lord, my prayer today is for more – more faith and trust in You –

…and for more of Your consoling presence

which never fails to fill me with hope and reassurance.

Thank You, Lord.  Amen.

.

TODAY’S WORD…

Be gracious to me, O God,

for people trample on me;

all day long foes oppress me.

God is for me.

In God, whose word I praise,

in the Lord, whose word I praise,

in God I trust; I am not afraid.

What can a mere mortal do to me?

– Psalm 56:1, 9-11

REFLECTION…

Oh how beautiful are the Psalms, full of human outpourings to the Creator; of shouts of joy from the heart; of desperate cries for help; of expression of anger and frustration. The Psalms reflect the manner in which those who have a personal relationship with the Lord, call out to Him, as they go through life’s ups and downs.

The beauty which lies inside the heart from which such earnest feelings pour out, is the belief, the knowledge, that God is listening; that He will ultimately intervene and will reassure and strengthen. And, as we reach out, the Spirit will then take over…and the heart is quietened and heartened, and is filled with the peace of the Lord!

PRAYER…

My Lord, my God, my Maker,

to You I lift up all my joys and my sorrows.

I thank You for always being there for me,

and for Your reassuring Spirit

always by my side counselling and consoling.

Lord, I place my trust in You

and I seek Your strengthening grace

which ensures that nothing, of whatever nature,

will separate me from Your love.

I put my faith in You, O Lord,

for You are my loving God.

Amen.

TODAY’S WORD…

Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked.

– Romans 8:35

REFLECTION…

Who or what will cause us to stop loving our Saviour? Christians’ love for their Redeemer should be so strong that it will surmount and survive all trials and opposition. However, trials and opposition, when they occur in our lives, can tend to test and alienate our love for Jesus.

But no, our love for Christ is so deep that we are willing to bear all; and nothing that these enemies of our peace can do, can distance us from Him and from His cause. Nothing, and no one, will be able to separate us from that strong love that we have for our Saviour.

Nothing? No one? How strong and determined a Christian am I?

QUOTE…

“Our Lord has in fact chosen us to be leaven, salt and light in this world. Don’t be worried. The world won’t harm you unless you want it to. No enemy of our soul can do anything if we don’t consent. And we won’t consent, with the grace of God and the protection of our Mother in heaven”

– St. Josemaria Escriva

PRAYER…

My Lord, my God, my Saviour,

I shall always love You – in good times and in bad –

because I know and believe that with You by my side

I can walk with no fear, even through the valley of darkness.

It is not about me, Lord, it is all about You.

Nothing and no one will ever change the love I have for You.

Amen.

TODAY’S WORD…

The Lord said to Samuel, “God does not see as man sees; man looks at appearances but the Lord looks at the heart.”

– 1 Samuel 16:7

REFLECTION…

Keeping up appearances is, unfortunately, what life is very much about for many these days.

We can tell how men and women look…on the outside. People-watching has become a popular pastime especially for those who like to gossip. God, on the other hand, can tell what people are…inside. He judges us by the heart.

We so often end up forming a mistaken judgment of character. The Lord, on the other hand, values only the faith, reverence, and love, which are planted in the heart, and which are beyond human discernment.

With God, what really matters is what lies inside us, inside our heart.

PRAYER…

My Lord Jesus,

You chose to be born in a humble manger,

rather than in a palace fit for a King.

You were never one for superficiality,

and it was Your unpretentious and loving demeanour

which, till today, leaves us in awe of You.

Lord, I thank You for Your example,

for showing us the way,

for teaching us how to be acceptable to God;

for being our guiding light along this road we walk,

which can be dark and treacherous

were it not for Your divine presence.

Lord, thank You for all that You have entrusted me with;

for the life You permit me to have.

But, Lord, above all, I want to have You in my heart.

Lord, You are all I want,

You are all I ever needed.

All I seek is for You to dwell deep within my heart.

Amen.