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

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TODAY’S WORD…

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“Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”

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– Matthew 9:14 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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Jesus was asked this question by the disciples of John the Baptist,

who very well knew the fruits of fasting

and who therefore taught about the importance and need of practicing this form of penance.

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Fasting was then, and always will be,

one more sign of the spirit of penance that God asks of mankind.

God encourages us to perform that personal religious act,

which has as its end

love for and abandonment to Him.

When penance is accompanied by prayer,

it can be used to manifest humility before God.

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In Holy Scripture we see several instances

when fasting and other works of penance are performed before the commencement of any difficult task;

to implore forgiveness of sin;

to obtain the cessation of a calamity;

to gain the grace needed for the fulfilment of a mission;

to prepare oneself to come face to face with God…

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Of course we cannot ignore Jesus’ reply to the observation that His disciples did not fast:

“The wedding-guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they?

The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them,

and then they will fast.” (Matt 9:15)

The wedding-guests are the friends of the bridegroom, who is Jesus.

But, His disciples, His friends, were physically with Him…and so they do not need to fast,

however He emphasised that when He no longer is visibly present,

they would then certainly fast

because they will have need of acts of penance and self-denial

if they are to see Him with the eyes of their soul.

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Jesus’ call to conversion and penance aims at the conversion of the heart – at interior conversion.

He wants us to fast, to pray, to give to the poor, to exercise self-control through self-denial,

however without a true conversion of the heart, such penances remain sterile and false.

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Today I must ask myself, in God’s presence,

how I can live this spirit of penance throughout my life,

but in an even more special way during the season of Lent.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, my Lord and Saviour, I want to abandon myself to You.

Change my heart, Lord. Renew me and fill me with faith,

and also with the determination to offer up to You acceptable sacrifices of contrition, penance and love.

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… … … … … … … … … … … …… …

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Note: The main source of today’s REFLECTION is the seven-volume work

“In Conversation with God” by Padre Francisco Fernández Carvajal.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“If any of you wants to be my follower,

you must turn from your selfish ways,

take up your cross daily,

and follow me.”

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– Luke 9:23 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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If we are to follow Jesus,

we have to carry our own Cross.

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Our Lord, addressing Himself to all mankind, speaks of the daily Cross:

“If any of you wants to be my follower,

you must turn from your selfish ways,

take up your cross daily,

and follow me.”

And these words of Jesus retain their fullest value.

They are words spoken to all men and women who want to follow Him.

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There is no such thing as Christianity without the Cross.

There is no Christianity specifically designed for soft and fainthearted Christians with no sense of sacrifice.

Christianity is clearly not for those who lack courage or determination.

Our Lord goes on to state a condition that is absolutely necessary, a sine qua non:

“And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me,

you cannot be my disciple.”

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One of the earliest symptoms of lukewarmness having entered into a soul

is precisely the abandoning of one’s Cross,

that contempt for little mortifications,

that scorning of anything that in some way involves sacrifice and self-denial.

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To flee from the Cross is to turn one’s back on holiness and joy.

The fruits of the mortified soul

are a capacity to relate closer to God and other people,

as well as a profound peace and internal joy,

even in the midst of trouble and suffering and external difficulties.

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Christian discipline

is about self-control and self-denial so as to overcome the desire for sin and to strengthen the will.

Those who abandon Christian self-discipline

are inevitably ensnared by their own senses…and they lose their way.

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QUOTE…

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“Sacrifice always brings with it joy in the midst of pain,

the happiness of knowing that we are fulfilling God’s will,

and of making the effort to love Him.”

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– R. M. de Balbin, Sacrifice and Joy.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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My Jesus, it is only Your great love which helps me to accept my sufferings

and to carry my Cross in such a way that I may be Your true follower.

Lord, thank You for Your love and sacrifice for me. Thank You for Your joy.

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… … … … … … … … … … … …… …

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Note: The main source of today’s REFLECTION is the seven-volume work

“In Conversation with God” by Padre Francisco Fernández Carvajal.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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…the Lord says,

“Turn to me now, while there is time.
Give me your hearts.
Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.”

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– Joel 2:12 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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Lent is a time of penance and interior renewal

to enable us prepare for Easter,

and God is inviting us to purify our souls

and to begin again:

Turn to me now, while there is time.
Give me your hearts.
Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.

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God wants us to detach ourselves from the things of the earth

and to return to Him.

He wants us to abandon sin, which makes us grow old and die,

and to instead return to the Fount of Life and Joy.

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To turn our hearts towards God, to be converted,

means that we must be prepared to do everything

to live as He wants us to live.

We must be absolutely sincere with ourselves.

We must try not to serve two masters.

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We must love God with our whole heart and soul,

and flee from any deliberate sin in our lives.

Each of us must do this

irrespective of our personal circumstances as regards work, health, family, age or whatever.

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Jesus is looking for a contrite heart within us,

a heart that acknowledges its weaknesses and sins

and is prepared to disencumber itself from them.

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God wants from us a genuine sorrow for our sins,

which we will manifest above all by going to sacramental confession,

and by doing small deeds of mortification and penance out of love.

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PRAYER…

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Have mercy on me, O God,

according to Your merciful love;

according to Your great compassion,

blot out my transgressions.

Wash me completely from my iniquity,

and cleanse me from my sin.

My transgressions, truly I know them;

my sin is always before me.

Against You, You alone, have I sinned;

what is evil in Your sight I have done.

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Create a pure heart for me, O God;

renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from Your presence;

take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore in me the joy of Your salvation;

sustain in me a willing spirit.

I will teach transgressors Your ways,

that sinners may return to You.

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O LORD, open my lips

and my mouth shall proclaim Your praise.

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– Psalm 51:3-6,12-15,17.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Create a pure heart for me, O God;

renew a steadfast spirit within me.

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… … … … … … … … … … … …… …

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Note: The main source of today’s REFLECTION is the seven-volume work

“In Conversation with God” by Padre Francisco Fernández Carvajal.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Honour your father and your mother,

as the Lord your God commanded you…

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– Deuteronomy 5:16 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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The fourth commandment obliges all,

but especially those who want to be good Christians,

to give their help and affection to their parents

even though this may demand sacrifice on their part.

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They can do this each day in a thousand little ways,

and the fulfilment of the commandment becomes particularly important

when their parents are elderly

or their circumstances render them more in need of help.

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God repays with happiness

those who lovingly carry out their filial duties towards their parents,

even though such duties may sometimes weigh heavily on them.

This commandment is one of the obligations God has committed to us

that is most acceptable and pleasing to Him.

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When we have true love for God,

we can find the right way of showing love to our parents,

even if they may not have been perfect.

We must seek to love them like God loves us, unconditionally,

always remembering that the love of God is selfless, patient, kind,

and keeps no record of wrongs.

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When we love and honour our parents as we should,

we are at the same time loving and honouring God – our Father in Heaven,

our divine Parent.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Heavenly Father, forgive me for whenever I may have lacked my parents in love.

Help me always love like You love..

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… … … … … … … … … … … …… …

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Note: The main source of today’s REFLECTION is the seven-volume work

“In Conversation with God” by Padre Francisco Fernández Carvajal.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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“I was hungry, and you fed me.

I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink.

I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.

I was naked, and you gave me clothing.

I was sick, and you cared for me.

I was in prison, and you visited me. “

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– Matthew 25:35-36 (NLT)

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“I tell you the truth,

when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,

you were doing it to me!”

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– Matthew 25:40 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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God calls us to live with others,

to simply make what contribution we can – small or large –

to the good of all.

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God willed that relationships between human beings

should be more than an occasional and fleeting expression of concern for their neighbours.

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God willed that mankind

should help in providing all that the necessities and dignity of life would require and demand.

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Divine Providence ordered human nature in such a way

that men should be inclined to associate with others of their kind,

and to unite themselves with other people

both in the society of the home

as well as in civil society.

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Living in society – living with others –

gives rise to many opportunities, advantages and benefits,

but also to obligations

whatever the environment we happen to inhabit.

Think of your place within the family,

in civil society,

in your neighbourhood,

at work…

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These obligations are invested with a moral character

because of the relationship of man to God – his ultimate end.

Observing these obligations,

or failing to keep them

brings us closer to or separates us further…from God.

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Yes, God calls us to live with others,

to simply make what contribution we can – small or large –

to the good of all.

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Am I open to other people, especially those that God has placed closest to me?

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Do I generally make myself available?

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Do I give good example in the way I fulfil my family and social duties?

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Do I frequently ask God for light to know what I have to do should an opportunity arise,

and do I carry out my task through to the end,

courageously, with a spirit of sacrifice?

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From today onwards, ask the Lord frequently:

What can I do for other people?

What words can I say to console and help others?

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QUOTE…

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“By his innermost nature man is a social being,

and if he does not enter into relations with others

he can neither live as a human being

nor develop his gifts.

Society is a natural means that man can and should use

in order to reach his end. ”

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– Pope Pius XI

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, remove my selfishness

and never allow me to be indifferent to others.

Lord, help me see You in all.

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… … … … … … … … … … … …… …

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Note: The main source of today’s REFLECTION is the seven-volume work

“In Conversation with God” by Padre Francisco Fernández Carvajal.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said to Simon,

“Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

Simon answered,

“Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing.

Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”

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– Luke 5:4-5 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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Jesus has just finished preaching to a large crowd,

which He did sitting in Simon Peter’s boat.

As the crowds slowly move away, Jesus tells Peter to man the oars

and to put out into deep water.

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Peter tells our Lord about how they had been working all night

without catching anything (as if Jesus didn’t already know!)

Peter’sreply seemed reasonable enough,

especially because the night hours were their normal time for fishing

and even then they had caught nothing.

For an experienced fisherman, there was absolutely no point in fishing by day,

nevertheless Peter has faith: ”If you say so, I will let down the nets”

and also out of obedience, he decides to do what Christ tells him to do.

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Although tired,

although it is not a man of the sea who gives the order,

although he is well aware that the time is all wrong for fishing,

although he knows perfectly well that there are no fish around,

Peter simply dismisses all these considerations out of trust in the Master. He therefore goes out into the deep, together with his men,

and they lower the nets.

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Peter has faith, and He simply obeys and trusts,

and we all know what happened afterwards

– they caught so much fish that their nets were bursting!

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For the true Christian, faith, trust and obedience are indispensable.

Without obedience, all our efforts are useless in God’s eyes,

and as believers and followers of Christ,

we must always be determined to obey His commandments;

to follow His teachings;

to carry out His will.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, increase my faith and trust in You

– I want to obey You, Lord, in everything You say.

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… … … … … … … … … … … …… …

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Note: The main source of today’s REFLECTION is the seven-volume work

“In Conversation with God” by Padre Francisco Fernández Carvajal.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Come to me all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest.

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– Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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No one understands our fatigue and tiredness better than Our Lord.

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As we carry out our duties and daily chores,

as we generously go about our work,

as we use up so much of our energy in apostolic initiatives to spread the Good News

and in altruistic care for others,

it is natural that fatigue appears as an almost inseparable companion.

But far from complaining about this inescapable reality – a reality that is common to all of us –

we have to learn how to rest, how to rest close to God.

O Jesus, I rest in You! we can often state inwardly

as we seek our support from Him.

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No one understands our tiredness better than Our Lord.

Throughout His life,

He Himself experienced something as consonant with human nature as fatigue

and was often in situations that sapped His human strength,

which left Him feeling exhausted and weary at the end of the day

and in need of rest…and peace…and quiet.

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And the Lord regularly made it a point to go to a quiet place,

to rest in His Father

and to recover His strength.

So too must we learn to recover our strength.

We must go to Jesus; stay close to Him; rest in Him.

Come to me, He says to us,

all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest.

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We make our burden lighter when we unite our tiredness to that of Christ,

when we offer it up for the intentions of others who are so in need

and for the redemption of souls.

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We must also sanctify our leisure time

by offering it to the Lord in sincere thanksgiving;

by using it to find more time to get closer to Him

and to reflect God’s love, joy, peace and compassion on to others around us.

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What we must not do

is use the time as purely selfish compensation for our exertions.

Selfishness is not Christian

…and love does not take holidays.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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O Jesus, I rest in You!

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… … … … … … … … … … … …… …

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Note: The main source of today’s REFLECTION is the seven-volume work

“In Conversation with God” by Padre Francisco Fernández Carvajal.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Unfaithful people!

Don’t you know that to be the world’s friend means to be God’s enemy?

If you want to be the world’s friend,

you make yourself God’s enemy.

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– James 4:4 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…

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Inordinate love of the world, which stems from ambition,

is incompatible with the love of God.

Having an inordinate love of the world

leadsto opposition to Christ and His teachings and His followers.

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Our Lord warned us that no one can faithfully serve two masters:

"You will hate one and love the other;

you will be loyal to one and despise the other." (Matt 6:24)

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If we are going to follow Christ, if we truly love Him,

then we must be steadfast in faith

and bear witness to it

even if it comes at a personal cost,

because, to true followers of Christ,

nothing should be worth losing their souls for.

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If necessary, all Christians should be prepared to give up their lives as witnesses to their Faith.

However, God does not ask the majority of Christians

to do so in testimony of the faith they profess.

What He does ask of us

is a heroic steadfastness in proclaiming the truth through our life and our words

even in environments which may be difficult and hostile to the teachings of Christ.

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He asks us to live fully the Christian virtues

in this world, and in spite of it,

in whatever circumstances life has placed us in.

This is the path that the majority of Christians will have to tread

– Christians who sacrifice themselves

through living heroism in the duties and circumstances of each day,

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Today’s Christian needs the virtue of fortitude in a special way.

Having fortitude is indispensable, given the materialistic mentality of so many people today.

It is a mentality that prizes comfort

and has a horror of anything that smacks of mortifications, renunciation or sacrifice.

That is why, without courage, self-control, determination and fortitude,

we cannot remain faithful to God.

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Each day presents us with many opportunities for practising these virtues.

Overcoming our moods is one of them.

Avoiding useless complaints is another.

So too is persevering in our work when we feel tired;

smiling when we find it difficult to do so;

lovingly correcting people when necessary…

Not easy,

but being a good Christian requires a kind of bravery

as well as determination.

Indeed, to follow Christ we need fortitude.

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QUOTE…

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Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties

and constancy in the pursuit of the good.

It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations

and to overcome obstacles in the moral life.

The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death,

and to face trials and persecutions.

It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defence of a just cause…

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– Catechism of the Catholic Church 1808

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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In everything I say and do,

Lord, help me keep my focus on You, always.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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We should throw off everything that hinders us,

especially the sin that clings so easily,

and keep running steadily in the race we have started.

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Let us not lose sight of Jesus,

who leads us in our faith

and brings it to perfection.

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– Hebrews 12:1-2 (JB)

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REFLECTION…

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Faith fills us with hope

and that hope gives us the determination we need

to run the race.

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Ours is not a short and easy race

but a long test which calls for endurance

and an ability to cope with pain and fatigue.

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As true believers, we run the race

in spite of all obstacles we encounter along the way,

and all the urgings and temptations from everywhere to pull out of the race

and to simply “lie back and enjoy life, because we only live once!”

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Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus

is what will help us get there.

He too ran the race – and how!

He too was tempted to do otherwise – and how!

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Jesus became one like us to show us the way;

to show us, through His own extreme example,

how the race should be run,

with faith, hope and joy in our hearts,

and how not to give up,

so as to finally get to that glorious and joyful destination

which God has promised us,

and which we so yearn for.

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Essentially, what we need to win in the struggle of life is detachment.

Anything that does not lead to God is a hindrance.

Root it out and throw it far from you. (St. Josemaria Escriva)

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lead me, Lord, give me self-control and fill me with faith and determination. Help me run the race of life.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Endure hardship as discipline;

God is treating you as His children.

For what children are not disciplined by their father?

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– Hebrews 12:7 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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God is our caring Father

who exudes love

and who, for that same reason, disciplines us

so as to mould and strengthen our character and our resolve

as we go through life seeking to reach our ultimate destination.

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Much in the same manner as innocent little children love their father and trust him,

so we too should be with God, our Heavenly Father.

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We must love, revere, respect and trust Him,

fear offending Him,

do all we can to please Him,

and respect His Divine plan for us.

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QUOTE…

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“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.”

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– Deuteronomy 8:5-6

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Abba, thank You for loving me and guiding me.

Abba, I want to obey Your Commandments; I want to do Your will. Amen!

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