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

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Let us be concerned for one another,

to help one another to show love and to do good.

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– Hebrews 10:24 (GNT)

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Reflection for Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent…

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“The Lenten season offers us once again

an opportunity to reflect upon the very heart of Christian life: charity.

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This is a favourable time to renew our journey of faith,

both as individuals and as a community,

with the help of the Word of God and the Sacraments.

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This journey is one marked by prayer and sharing, silence and fasting,

in anticipation of the joy of Easter.

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" Let us be concerned for one another,

to help one another to show love and to do good "

Concern for others entails desiring what is good for them

from every point of view: physical, moral and spiritual.

…Here we touch upon a profound aspect of communion:

our existence is related to that of others, for better or for worse.

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Sadly, there is always the temptation to become lukewarm,

to quench the Spirit,

to refuse to invest the talents we have received, for our own good and for the good of others.

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All of us have received spiritual or material riches

meant to be used for the fulfilment of God’s plan,

for the good of the Church and for our personal salvation.

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In a world which demands of Christians a renewed witness of love and fidelity to the Lord,

may all of us feel the urgent need to anticipate one another

in charity, service and good work.

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This appeal is particularly pressing

in this holy season of preparation for Easter.”

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– Pope Benedict XVI.

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PRAYER…

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Dear Jesus,

help us to spread Your fragrance

everywhere we go.

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Flood our souls with Your spirit and life.

Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly

that our lives may only be a radiance of Yours.

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Shine through us and be so in us

that every soul we come in contact with

may feel Your presence in our soul.

Let them look up and see no longer us, but only Jesus.

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Let us preach You without preaching,

not by words, but by our example;

by the catching force –

the sympathetic influence of what we do,

the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to You.

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Amen.

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– from a Prayer of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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God is always at work in you

to make you willing and able to obey His own purpose.

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– Philippians 2:13 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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The Holy Spirit is at work in us.

He wants to change us, to give us a better life, to make us holier.

We can, and should, rely on Him and His work in our life.

Jesus did not leave us on our own to work things out

– Jesus prayed to the Father

and He sent us the Holy Spirit as our Consoler, our Counselor, our Sanctifier

…always by our side.

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God wants all to be saved.

As Christians we should press forward

and, in doing so, we are always being helped by grace,

which will lead us to implement God’s plans for us.

Yet grace does not overpower our freedom:

it is we who love, and we who act.

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But God’s kindness towards us should not be an excuse for inaction on our part.

He is always desirous of entering our soul

but He will not do so if we refuse to listen to His voice;

if we bar our heart to Him.

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PRAYER…

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Work in me, Lord, cleanse me, transform me, renew my mind

and fill me with the desire and the power to do what pleases You.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Be wise in the way you act toward those who are not believers,

making good use of every opportunity you have.

Your speech should always be pleasant and interesting,

and you should know how to give the right answer to everyone.

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– Colossians 4:5-6 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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When we love other people,

we will want to share with them the best thing we have – the Lord.

We must share what we have found – with wisdom

and through following the leading of the Spirit.

It cannot be emphasized enough

how important it is to be careful in what we say to those who don’t really know Christ

and how to express it…through our attitude, words and deeds.

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We must seize and use every opportunity

and we must show kindness, care, and control,

through our example and friendship, and in the way we use our speech.

We should help others discover the wonder of the faith, the marvel of God’s love.

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Christian living is perfectly compatible with everyday life and normal human involvements.

Friendliness, infectious cheerfulness and good humour are a reflection of the inner peace

which comes from the grace of God and from the awareness that He is our Father.

These virtues make life more pleasant for everyone

and do much to attract people to Christ and His Gospel of Love.

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PRAYER…

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Open my eyes Lord, that I may see those people which You place in my path to bless,

and Lord fill me with a holy determination to spread Your Good News.

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Holy Spirit, I cannot give from what I do not have,

so help me know Jesus better and filled with all that I need

to show others, through my words and my deeds,

the wonders of the Father’s mighty love for each and every one of us.

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Amen.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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In God alone is my soul at rest;

my salvation comes from Him.

He alone is my rock, my salvation,

my fortress; never shall I falter.

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In God alone be at rest, my soul,

for my hope is from Him.

He alone is my rock, my salvation,

my fortress; never shall I falter.

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In God is my salvation and glory,

my rock of strength;

in God is my refuge.

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Trust Him at all times, O people.

Pour out your hearts before Him.

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– Psalm 61(62):2-3,6-9 (RGP)

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REFLECTION…

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These verses contain such gentle words – they make up a hymn of faith and trust,

like a peaceful and strong prayer spoken from the heart.

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It is an invocation that also becomes a personal programme of life: Never shall I falter.

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It is an encouraging call for all, to believe and be faithful: Trust Him at all times, O people. Pour out your hearts before Him.

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PRAYER…

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In God alone is my soul at rest;

my salvation comes from Him.

He alone is my rock, my salvation,

my fortress; never shall I falter.

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In God alone be at rest, my soul,

for my hope is from Him.

He alone is my rock, my salvation,

my fortress; never shall I falter.

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In God is my salvation and glory,

my rock of strength;

in God is my refuge.

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Trust Him at all times, O people.

Pour out your hearts before Him.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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From the Holy Scriptures

you can learn the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

All Scripture is inspired by God

and can profitably be used for teaching,

for refuting error,

for guiding people’s lives

and touching them to be holy.

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– 2 Timothy 3:15-16

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REFLECTION…

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To be true Christians, we need to know what God teaches.

The Scriptures are what God teaches.

The Scriptures are the Word of God, and they contain words of life.

We must never stop reading them and meditating on them faithfully,

and as we do so we will carry on renewing ourselves and growing…in love and hope.

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Scripture also helps us

to reach out to so many who are, today, lost…and searching,

perhaps desperately…for a reason; for the truth.

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We must also pass on the Word of God, in its beauty and the life that it gives,

to our children.

We must make a commitment that our children and our grandchildren will be given this head start in life.

Yes, personal faith can be won in adolescence or adulthood,

but beginning in infancy is such a blessing.

To fill a child’s world with love and hope and promise – because of Jesus –

is the greatest gift a parent or grandparent can give!

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We must also remember that the goal of Scripture is not to be learned but to be lived.

God intended His Word to be practical truth – a gift that prepares us to do every good work.

God wants us to be prepared to do good works

and Jesus showed us how and what to do.

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PRAYER…

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Jesus, Son of the Living God,

help me never take for granted the great gift of being able to read Your Word and learn Your Truth.

Please give me the character and the courage to put it into practical use

and to let it teach me how to do Your will.

Lord, help me gladly seize upon opportunities of sharing my faith with my family and with others.

For this I pray.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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He would always go off to some place where He could be alone and pray.

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– Luke 5:16 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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St Luke’s Gospel frequently draws attention to Jesus going off, alone, to pray.

By doing this Jesus teaches us the need for personal prayer in all the various situations in which we find ourselves.

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Jesus prayed.

In order to keep in contact with God who is our source of life, we too should pray.

Although He was the Son of God, although He was very busy, He knew He had to pray.

We too have to pray if we wish to stay alive spiritually.

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The first characteristic which our prayer should have

is the simplicity of a son speaking to his father…

that is, we need to imitate Jesus.

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QUOTE…

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"It is very important to note carefully what the Messiah did,

because He came to show us the path that leads to the Father. […]

We will learn to live every moment of our lives with a lively awareness of eternity,

and we will understand more deeply man’s need for periods of intimate conversation with his God,

so as to get to know Him, to invoke Him, to praise Him, to break out into acts of thanksgiving,

to listen to Him or, quite simply, to be with Him"

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– St. Josemaria Escriva

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“You ask, “to pray is to talk with God, but about what?”

About what? About Him, about yourself,

about joys, sorrows, successes, failures, noble ambitions, daily worries, weaknesses!

And acts of thanksgiving and petition, and love and making amends.

In a word: to get to know Him and to get to know yourself -`to get acquainted!’"

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– St. Josemaria Escriva

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PRAYER…

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Lord, I want to know you better – help me to pray, full of faith in You, at all times.

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Lord, teach me how to pray from the depths of my heart and in total loving submission to Your will.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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So get rid of your old self, which made you live as you used to

– the old self that was being destroyed by its deceitful desires.

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Your hearts and minds must be made completely new,

and you must put on the new self, which is created in God’s likeness

and reveals itself in the true life that is upright and holy.

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– Ephesians 4:22-24 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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When we willingly permit the Holy Spirit to work in us, we are given a new self,

a way of life which is more spiritual, happier and better than the old.

But we need to – we must – actively put away our old self

so that we may experience the true life.

It is not enough, then, for one to have simply a veneer of piety.

Goodness, faithfulness, righteousness, holiness…are much more than skin deep

and we must always be on guard to avoid deceiving our own selves through our own self-styled outward appearance;

through the mask that we may be constantly wearing,

which seeks to disguise our true, egoistical self…

which may work with others, but not with God!

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QUOTE…

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"Entering the church and venerating sacred images and crosses is not sufficient for pleasing God,

just as washing one’s hands does not make one clean all over.

What truly pleases God is that a person flees from sin

and gets rid of his stains by means of confession and penance.

Let him break the chains of his faults by being humble of heart."

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– St Anastasius of Sinai

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"The power of God is made manifest in our weakness and it spurs us on to fight,

to battle against our defects,

although we know that we will never achieve total victory during our pilgrimage on earth.

The Christian life is a continuous beginning again each day.

It renews itself over and over."

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– St. Josemaria Escriva

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PRAYER…

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Heavenly Father, cleanse me, make me holy, empower me with Your Spirit,

that I may determinedly put aside my old habits and desires.

Give me a new and clean heart, Lord,

and a mind that focuses only on You and Your truth.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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“What about you?” Jesus asked His disciples.

“Who do you say I am?”

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Simon Peter answered,

“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

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– Matthew 16:15-16 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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Imagine Jesus turning to you and asking,

What about you, who do you say I am?

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So, what would my reply be?

Who is Jesus for me?

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If I don’t make time for Him

to get to know Him

and to learn about Him and from Him through Scripture;

to listen out for His voice;

to share my thoughts and feelings with Him;

to ask Him to help me take a good close look at myself;

to see what He wants from me;

to praise and thank Him for His mercies;

to just be with Him and simply share some special quiet moments…

…if I don’t make time for Jesus

then I won’t get to truly know Him.

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Who is Jesus for me?

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In His Gospels, JESUS tells us that He is…

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“the Bread of Life” (Jn 6:35)

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“the Living Bread” (Jn 6:51)

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“the Gate through whom we will be saved” (Jn 10:9)

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“the Good Shepherd” (Jn10:11)

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“the Resurrection and the Life” (Jn 11:25)

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“the Way, the Truth and the Life” (Jn 14:6)

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“the True Vine” (Jn 15:5)

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“the Alpha and the Omega – the Beginning and the End” (Rev 1:8;21:6;22:13)

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“the First and the Last” (Rev 1:17)

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“the Bright Morning Star” (Rev 22:16)

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PRAYER…

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Jesus, most kind,

Jesus, most loving,

Jesus, most meek,

Jesus, most gentle,

Jesus, most mild,

Jesus, most sweet,

Jesus, most amicable,

Jesus, most merciful,

Jesus, most bountiful,

Jesus, most gracious,

Jesus, most lovely,

Jesus, most noble,

Jesus, most renowned,

Jesus, most glorious,

Jesus, full of pity, Son of the Living God,

have mercy on me, a sinner!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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My child, if you are going to serve the Lord,

be prepared for times when you will be put to the test.

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Be sincere and determined. Keep calm when trouble comes.

Stay with the Lord; never abandon Him,

and you will be prosperous at the end of your days.

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Accept whatever happens to you.

Even if you suffer humiliation, be patient.

Gold is tested by fire,

and human character is tested in the furnace of humiliation.

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Trust the Lord,

and He will help you.

Walk straight in His ways,

and put your hope in Him.

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All you that fear the Lord, wait for Him to show you His mercy.

Do not turn away from Him, or you will fall.

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All you that fear the Lord, trust Him,

and you will certainly be rewarded.

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All you that fear the Lord,

look forward to His blessings of mercy and eternal happiness.

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Think back to the ancient generations and consider this:

has the Lord ever disappointed anyone who put his hope in Him?

Has the Lord ever abandoned anyone who held Him in constant reverence?

Has the Lord ever ignored anyone who prayed to Him?

The Lord is kind and merciful;

He forgives our sins and keeps us safe in time of trouble.

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– Sirach 2:1-11 (GNT)

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PRAYER…

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How great You are, O God!

I want to serve You, always,

in the good times

and in the bad.

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I want to stay with You

and hold Your hand

and walk with You

whatever happens.

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My God,

You are my great Hope

and in You I place my trust

– always!

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Thank You, Lord God.

Forgive me, Lord God.

I love You, Lord God.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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You have been raised to life with Christ,

so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven,

where Christ sits on His throne at the right side of God..

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– Colossians 3:1 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…from a sermon by St Gregory of Nyssa

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Set your hearts on the things that are in heaven,

is only another way of saying: “Keep your eyes on Christ.”

Christ is our head, and the wise keep their eyes focused on Him

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We shall be blessed with clear vision if we keep our eyes fixed on Christ,

for in Him there is no shadow of evil.

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As no darkness can be seen by anyone surrounded by light,

so no trivialities can capture the attention of those who have their eyes on Christ.

When we keeps our eyes upon the head and origin of the whole universe,

we are looking at virtue in all its perfection;

we are looking at truth, at justice, at immortality

and at everything else that is good – or Christ is goodness itself.

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The wise turn their eyes toward the One who is their head,

but the fools grope in darkness.

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Seek, therefore, the things that are above;

set your hearts on the things that are in heaven;

keep your eyes on Christ!

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QUOTE…

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"Seek the things that are above. …

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

This does not mean cutting oneself off from one’s daily commitments, neglecting earthly realities;

rather, it means reviving every human activity with a supernatural breath,

it means making ourselves joyful proclaimers

and witnesses of the resurrection of Christ, living for eternity.”

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– Pope Benedict XVI

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PRAYER…

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I lift my eyes to You, my Lord, my God, my Saviour,

my King, my Light, my Way, my Truth…

Lead me through life, O Jesus, my Shepherd.

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