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

TODAY’S WORD…

As they (the apostles) left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonour for the sake of the Name.

– Acts 5:41

REFLECTION…

“…considered worthy to suffer dishonour…” – what a glorious paradox for true believers in Jesus. Who would ever have thought that suffering dishonour could uplift the heart!

Jesus, the Divine Paradox, suffered dishonour and uplifted mankind. So for us, His followers,

whatever the consequences of what we humbly do or say in His name, we rejoice – always!

PRAYER…

You, my God, are supreme,

utmost in goodness,

mightiest and all-powerful,

most merciful and most just.

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You are the most hidden from us

and yet the most present amongst us,

the most beautiful

and yet the most strong,

ever enduring

and yet we cannot comprehend You.

You are unchangeable

and yet You change all things.

You are never new, never old,

and yet all things have new life from You.

You are the unseen power

that brings decline upon the proud.

You are my God, my Life, my holy Delight,

but is this enough to say of You?

Can any person say enough when speaking of You?

Yet woe betide those who are silent about You!

For even those who are most gifted with speech

cannot find words to describe You.

Amen.

[Today’s prayer is from Saint Augustine’s “Confessions”, Bk 1, Sect. 4]

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TODAY’S WORD…

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will.”

– Luke 10:21

REFLECTION…

It is not that Jesus is against the wise and intelligent, but Jesus knows that those who arrogantly regard themselves as having a superior intellect, become so full of themselves, so haughty and proud, that even in matters of religion they loftily consider others to be inferior and, possibly, less worthy!

Such persons, invariably, fail to apply Jesus’ constant call for humility to themselves and, therefore, they can never go beyond the human realm in their understanding of Christ. Their attitude blocks having a genuine personal relationship with Jesus.

The humble, on the other hand (and to be humble does not mean to lack intellect), experience Christ in a very special personal manner, as the Spirit faithfully reveals to them that which is otherwise beyond human understanding, that which brings deep and indescribable joy!

PRAYER…

Lord Jesus, I want to be humble

like You were humble on this earth.

I want to learn from You and listen to Your voice.

I want to always be guided by You.

Lord Jesus, the fact that You are my friend, overwhelms me;

the fact that You walk by my side along the way, fills me with great joy.

Lord, You are the King of Kings,

yet You are so wonderfully meek and humble of heart.

Lord, teach me how to be like You.

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TODAY’S WORD…

In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.

– Isaiah 2:2

REFLECTION…

We, Christians, are now in Advent – and in just twenty-one days time it’s Christmas!

Christmas is that special time when we Christians lift the mountain of the Lord above all other mountains so that all can see and come in peace and be filled with joy! But do we?

Christmas marks the birthday of our Lord and we celebrate Him with joy in our hearts as we proclaim the Good News to all who me meet! But do we?

PRAYER…

Father in Heaven,

thank You for giving me Christmas

– that great moment when Your Son

became flesh, like me.

Thank You, Lord,

for giving me reason to celebrate

and to be filled with joy and hope.

Faithful God,

please help me fix my mind

on the true meaning of Christmas.

Help me, Lord,

gratefully prepare for this joyful event

so as to celebrate it

in a manner fit for Your Son, who is the true reason for Christmas.

Help me, Lord,

and fill me with holy, expectant and contagious joy,

so that, by my attitude towards Your Feast and by whatever I say and do,

I will lovingly pass the true story of Christmas

on to my dearest ones and to all who I meet.

Come, Jesus, come!

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TODAY’S WORD…

O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of Your hand.                                                                                                       – Isaiah 64:8

REFLECTION…

God, our loving Father, is the Master Potter, and in His providential ways He forms us – and we do well if we submit ourselves completely into His caring hands.

Occasionally, the actions of the Master Potter may not make sense to us. We may squirm and even complain.

When God’s actions appear painful to us, we would do well to go before Him with humble faith, and ask for strength in acceptance of His will.

God forbid that we should ever think we know better than Him! But what spiritual peace and assurance comes when we willingly place our life in the caring hands of our Divine Potter and allow Him to mould us! Time and hindsight always confirm this to the faithful and loving Christian.

PRAYER…

I am Yours, Father,

hold me in Your arms,

reassure me with Your love,

mould me and make me according to Your will.

Change my heart, O God,

make it ever true.

Change my heart, O God,

may I be like You.

You are the Potter,

I am the clay,

mould me and make me,

this is what I pray.

Your will be done, O God.

Amen.

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TODAY’S WORD…

Thus says the Lord: Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.

But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’

– Jeremiah 6:16

REFLECTION…

These days everything ‘retro’ seems to be “cool”, with one big exception (it seems): God’s ancient paths of spiritual, moral righteousness, as renewed through His Son Jesus Christ.

This world in crisis looks for lessons from the past in its efforts to overcome the many current crises, so why is it that we do not seem to want to learn from the past when it comes to addressing the present spiritual crisis? Or is a spiritual crisis not considered to be a crisis at all!

We need to constantly pray, more than ever, and we must also persist in acting in a Christian manner so that all may find the path of truth, and love, and joy and peace that only having Christ in one’s life can bring.

PRAYER…

Lord Jesus, You are the same – yesterday, today, and forever.

You do not change, Lord; You are constant; Your love for us is constant; and Your teachings have remained valid for more than two thousand years. Your truth is undeniable and age-less.

Lord, I pray that this world of ours, will yearn for, and seek …and find…the path of glorious truth – in You.

Lord Jesus, help us follow in Your path!

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TODAY’S WORD…

What Scripture calls “the things that no eye has seen and no ear has heard, things beyond the mind of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him” – these are the very things that God has revealed to us through the Spirit.

– 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

REFLECTION…

Jesus had told his Apostles that “when the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all truth” (Jn 16:13), and on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit did open their minds to understand the truth revealed by Jesus Christ.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes that we may truly perceive and understand. Let us ask Him to cause us to discover and to see more of what is in us already.

And when God opens our eyes to see, we shall praise Him more and more for what we have been given and for what is yet to come.

PRAYER…

Holy Spirit, be with me today…and every day.

Be my Teacher, my Guide, my Counsellor, my Friend.

Fill me with Your gifts,

especially the gifts of wisdom, discernment, knowledge,

understanding, compassion, love, and awe in God’s presence.

Open my mind and reveal to me, His Truth and His eternal love.

Holy Spirit, in all that I think, say, and do,

let it be in accordance with Your most holy and perfect will.

Holy Spirit, come, and guide me into all truth!

TODAY’S WORD…

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.

– Galatians 5:22-23,25

REFLECTION…

What we receive from letting the Holy Spirit work in our life – His fruit – is in complete contrast with our sinful tendencies.

The product of the latter inclinations and desires are also listed by St. Paul in this same chapter from his letter to the Galatians. What results is “sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.” (Gal 5:19-21)

Chalk and cheese!

Which do I choose? If I claim to live or want to live by the Spirit, then I should let Him take over and guide me. But do I?

PRAYER…

Holy Spirit, come – I have chosen!

Come Holy Spirit, mould me and change me,

and build me up against my inclinations.

Let me, rather, indulge in the goodness of Your fruit,

and let me be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Come Holy Spirit, I have chosen!

TODAY’S WORD…

My part, I have resolved, O Lord,

is to obey Your Word.

I have pondered over many ways

and returned to do Your will.

– Psalm 118:57,59

REFLECTION…

Such words would come from deep within the heart and the mind of a true convert. Such words would be uttered by a person, who would have experienced what it means to live, to exist, without God.

Having lived such a life, this person recognises and admits the emptiness and aimlessness of such an existence…and returns to God and to that wonderful sense of belonging.

The conscious awareness of having reached such a decision and of having made such a choice to accept God’s grace, is so exhilarating.

The intellect knows fully and without any doubt, when the decision taken is the right one – and when it does, it is elated!

It is indeed wonderful to be back in God’s loving arms, knowing that His Way is the only one to follow and that His Word is the only Truth.

PRAYER…

I have resolved, O Lord,

to obey Your Word

– Your Word is a lamp to my feet.

I have pondered over many ways

and returned to do Your will, O Lord

– Your Word is a light for my path,

Lord, Your Word is a lamp to my feet, a light for my path

– it leads me to do Your will.

Thank You, Lord, for being so patient with me.

Thank You for Your unconditional love.

Thank You for leading me back to You.

Thank You for having me back.

Thank You, my Lord and my God.

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TODAY’S WORD…

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord,

sing praise to Him and highly exalt Him for ever.

Bless the Lord, You heavens,

sing praise to Him and highly exalt Him for ever.

Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord,

sing praise to Him and highly exalt Him for ever.

Bless the Lord. all you waters above the heavens,

sing praise to Him and highly exalt Him for ever.

Bless the Lord, all you powers,

sing praise to Him and highly exalt Him for ever.

– Daniel 3:57-61

REFLECTION…

What an exuberant prayer of praise!

What a rallying call from the heart

of one who recognises the Creator!

When touched by the Lord,

when filled with His Spirit,

when the eyes are opened

to the greatness of the Lord and His creation,

then the believing heart exalts with joy,

and bursts into incessant praise and thanks.

Amen!

PRAYER…

I bow my head in Your presence, O Lord,

for You are Omnipotent!

I lift my heart to You, O Lord,

for You are Love Eternal!

I love You, O Lord,

and I lift my voice and sing Your praises,

for You are my Magnificent Creator.

All creation praises You, O Lord;

all creation acknowledges You.

Lord God Almighty,

I too – a being You made in Your image and likeness –

want to acknowledge You forever,

with deepest praise and absolute joy

and grateful thanks from the heart.

Lord, I will love and exalt You forever.

Praise and thanks to You, O Lord!

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TODAY’S WORD…

Then a great and mysterious sight appeared in the sky.

There was a woman, whose dress was the sun

and who had the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head.

Then she gave birth to a son, who will rule over all nations with an iron rod.

– Revelation 12:1,5a

Jesus said to the disciple, “She is your mother.”

From that time the disciple took her to live in his home.

– John 19:27

REFLECTION…

Have I taken Mary, the Mother Of God, into my home…to be my mother?

TODAY’S PRAYER…THE LITANY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY…

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

Holy Mother of God, pray for us.

Holy Virgin of virgins, pray for us.

Mother of Christ, pray for us.

Mother of the Church, pray for us.

Mother of divine grace, pray for us.

Mother most pure, pray for us.

Mother most chaste, pray for us.

Mother inviolate, pray for us.

Mother undefiled, pray for us.

Mother immaculate, pray for us.

Mother most amiable, pray for us.

Mother most admirable, pray for us.

Mother of good counsel, pray for us.

Mother of our Creator, pray for us.

Mother of our Saviour, pray for us.

Virgin most prudent, pray for us.

Virgin most venerable, pray for us.

Virgin most renowned, pray for us.

Virgin most powerful, pray for us.

Virgin most merciful, pray for us.

Virgin most faithful, pray for us.

Mirror of justice, pray for us.

Seat of wisdom, pray for us.

Cause of our joy, pray for us.

Spiritual vessel, pray for us.

Vessel of honour, pray for us.

Singular vessel of devotion, pray for us.

Mystical rose, pray for us.

Tower of David, pray for us.

Tower of ivory, pray for us.

House of gold, pray for us.

Ark of the covenant, pray for us.

Gate of heaven, pray for us.

Morning star, pray for us.

Health of the sick, pray for us.

Refuge of sinners, pray for us.

Comforter of the afflicted, pray for us.

Help of Christians, pray for us.

Queen of angels, pray for us.

Queen of patriarchs, pray for us.

Queen of prophets, pray for us.

Queen of apostles, pray for us.

Queen of martyrs, pray for us.

Queen of confessors, pray for us.

Queen of virgins, pray for us.

Queen of all saints, pray for us.

Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.

Queen assumed into heaven, pray for us.

Queen of the most holy rosary, pray for us.

Queen of families, pray for us.

Queen of peace, pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.  That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. Grant, we beseech you, O Lord God, that we, your servants, may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body; and by the intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may be delivered from present sorrow, and obtain eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

NOTE.  Today, the 27th of November 2017 marks the 187th anniversary of the Medal of the Immaculate Conception, popularly known by Catholics the world over as the Miraculous Medal.