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

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TODAY’S WORD…

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The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’

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– Luke 17:5 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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The apostles open their hearts and minds to our Lord in all simplicity.

They know their faith is often not great enough to take in things they see and hear.

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We too are in the same situation as those first followers of Christ.

Our faith falters when we are faced with life’s difficulties

and with events that we have to learn to understand from a supernatural point of view.

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If we live with our eyes fixed on God

then we need fear nothing:

“Faith, if it is strong, protects the whole house.” (St. Ambrose)

It protects our life.

With faith, nothing is impossible.

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QUOTE…

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“Christ lays down one condition: we must live by faith;

then we will be able to move mountains.

And so many things need moving

…in the world, but, first of all in our hearts.”

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– St. Josemaria Escriva

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Have pity on me, Lord, and increase my faith!

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***** Today’s reflection has been sourced from the seven-volume work “In Conversation with God” by Padre Francisco Fernandez Carvajal.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Trust in the Lord for ever,

for the Lord is the everlasting Rock.

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– Isaiah 26:4 (JB)

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REFLECTION…

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A person’s life can be built on many kinds of foundations:

on rock, on clay, on smoke, on air…

Only the Christian has a firm foundation which securely supports him:

the Lord is the everlasting Rock.

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Our life can be built safely only on Christ Himself,

our sole Hope,

our sure Foundation.

And this means, first of all, that we strive to identify our will with His.

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God’s will is the compass-needle

which at every moment accurately points the way that takes us to Him.

At the same time, this course is the path to our own happiness.

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The fulfilment of the Divine Will

also gives us tremendous fortitude to overcome obstacles.

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God’s Will is intimately bound up with meeting each day with a loving smile,

with the fulfilment of our duties no matter how difficult they are

and with the help, both supernatural and human, that we give to those at our side.

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The Christian acknowledges that God’s will is also shown

in those things He allows to happen that do not turn out as we had hoped.

They are often even directly opposed to our wishes

or apparently at variance with what we have perhaps prayed for fervently and perseveringly.

This is when we redouble our prayers

and fix our eyes more steadily on Jesus

as He fills us with hope

and helps us to steadfastly meet each day with a loving smile.

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QUOTE…

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“Is it what You want, Lord?

… Then it’s what I want too!”

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– St. Josemaria Escriva

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, You are my Rock – not my will but Yours be done!

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***** Today’s reflection has been sourced from the seven-volume work “In Conversation with God” by Padre Francisco Fernandez Carvajal.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus called his disciples and told them,

“I feel sorry for these people.”

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– Matthew 15:32 (NLT)

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REFLECTION…

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To feel sorry for others;

to have compassion for those who suffer in one way or another;

to be genuinely moved by my neighbour’s misfortune

to the point of making myself available

and of giving of myself

as an expression of sincere Christian love and solidarity

– this is what I learn from Jesus

if I fix my eyes on Him

and as I meditate on His life.

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Jesus is a summary and compendium

of the story of divine mercy.

“How great is the Lord’s merciful forgiveness of those who turn to Him!” (Sir 17:29)

How great is The Divine Mercy towards each one of us!

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QUOTE…

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“Nothing can make you such an imitator of Christ as your concern for others

… if you are not attentive to your neighbour, you have done very little;

you are very far from being an image of Christ.”

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– St. John Chrysostom

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Come, O Divine Mercy, and teach me Your ways.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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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.”

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– Luke 10:21 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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It is not that Jesus is against the wise and intelligent.

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Jesus knows, however,

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!

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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.

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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!

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Come Holy Spirit, teach me.

Come Holy Spirit, guide me.

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TODAY’S WORD…

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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.

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– Isaiah 2:2 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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We, Christians, are now in Advent

– and in just twenty-five 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!

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Or do we?

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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!

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Or do we?.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, fill me with holy, expectant and contagious joy!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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O Lord, You are our Father;

we are the clay,

and You are our potter;

we are all the work of Your hand.

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– Isaiah 64:8 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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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.

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Occasionally, the actions of the Master Potter

may not make sense to us.

We may squirm and even complain.

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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!

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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!

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Time and hindsight always confirm this

to the faithful and loving Christian.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Mould me and shape me in Your image, O Lord!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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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.

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

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– Jeremiah 6:16 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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These days

there seems to be a nostalgia

for everything that is old;

a nostalgia for the past,

for the way things were

and for the way things were done

in the past.

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Most things ‘retro’ seem to be “cool”,

but there’s one big exception, or so it seems:

God’s ancient paths of spiritual, moral righteousness,

as renewed through His Son Jesus Christ.

All that is deemed so un-cool and old fashioned and passé

…by so many.

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The world seems to be losing its soul.

This is what happens when we discard our Creator

and believe only in ourselves.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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

Jesus, Yours is the only way!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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I will lift up my eyes to the mountains.

From where shall my help come?

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My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth.

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– Psalm 121:1-2 (NASB)

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REFLECTION…

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A believer with a problem;

a believer who needs help,

support, encouragement,

looks up towards heaven

…towards God…

with great love,

unending hope

and humble yearning,

placing it all in God’s hands

– hands that have always reached out

and loved.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Oh how I need You, Lord!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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The fruit of the Spirit is

love, joy,

peace, patience, kindness,

generosity, faithfulness, gentleness,

and self-control.

There is no law against such things.

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If we live by the Spirit,

let us also be guided by the Spirit.

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– Galatians 5:22-23,25 (NRSV

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REFLECTION…

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What we receive

from letting the Holy Spirit work in our life – His fruit –

is in complete contrast with our sinful tendencies.

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Earlier on in the same chapter from his letter to the Galatians, The latter St. Paul lists many of inclinations and desires

which cause the ruin of our soul:

“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.” (Galatians 5:19-21)

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Do I abhor the above

and work hard at embracing the fruit

which the Holy Spirit freely gives

to those who call upon Him with faith and humility?

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Do I prefer decadent behaviour and immoral attitude

over pure and just love, joy,

peace, patience, kindness,

generosity, faithfulness, gentleness,

and self-control?

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Which do I choose?

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If I claim to live,

or want to live by the Spirit,

then I should let Him take over

and guide me,

otherwise…

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The choice is entirely mine..

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Come Spirit of God, I have made my choice.

Guide me, Holy Spirit!

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TODAY’S WORD…

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My part, I have resolved, O Lord,

is to obey Your Word.

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I have pondered over many ways

and returned to do Your will.

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– Psalm 118:57,59 (Grail Psalms)

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REFLECTION…

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Such words come

from deep within the heart and the mind

of a true convert.

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Such words are uttered by a person,

who will have experienced what it means

to live, to exist, without God.

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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.

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The conscious awareness

of having reached such a decision

and of having made such a choice to accept God’s grace,

is so exhilarating.

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The intellect knows fully and without any doubt,

when the decision taken is the right one

– and when it does, it is elated!

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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.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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I have resolved, O Lord, to obey Your Word!

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