Your light must shine in the sight of men,
so that, seeing your good works,
they may give the praise to your Father in heaven. MT 5:16
PROVERBS 3:27-34
My Soul's Beloved,
God has hidden nothing from those who desire to live righteous lives. The Word of God is written in our hearts and even those outside the Christian faith know in their conscience what is good and what is wicked and they have it in their power to choose. All too often, when we desire to do what is displeasing to You, we pretend we cannot hear the quiet promptings of the Holy Spirit deep within our soul. Every day and all the time we can use the opportunities given to us to do what is good, right, holy, wise, true, beautiful, and pleasing to God or to give in to the flesh, the devil, or the world that constantly beguiles us with lies.
You have shown us the way, all the saints walked in it so we cannot claim ignorance. We are all brothers and sisters, sojourners and pilgrims on earth, and at our journey's end, we will be judged very strictly on the choices we make today. If all our actions and choices are prompted by love for God and neighbor You will welcome us home.
My son, do not refuse a kindness to anyone who begs it,
if it is in your power to perform it.
Do not say to your neighbour, ‘Go away! Come another time!
I will give it you tomorrow’, if you can do it now.
Do not plot harm against your neighbour
as he lives unsuspecting next door.
Do not pick a groundless quarrel with a man
who has done you no harm.
Do not emulate the man of violence,
never model your conduct on his;
for the wilful wrong-doer is abhorrent to the Lord,
who confides only in honest men.
The Lord’s curse lies on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the virtuous.
He mocks those who mock,
but accords his favour to the humble.
PSALM 14(15):2-5
My Soul's Beloved,
My son, do not refuse a kindness to anyone who begs it,
if it is in your power to perform it.
Do not say to your neighbour, ‘Go away! Come another time!
I will give it you tomorrow’, if you can do it now.
Do not plot harm against your neighbour
as he lives unsuspecting next door.
Do not pick a groundless quarrel with a man
who has done you no harm.
Do not emulate the man of violence,
never model your conduct on his;
for the wilful wrong-doer is abhorrent to the Lord,
who confides only in honest men.
The Lord’s curse lies on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the virtuous.
He mocks those who mock,
but accords his favour to the humble.
PSALM 14(15):2-5
The just will live in the presence of the Lord.
Lord, who shall dwell on your holy mountain?
He who walks without fault;
he who acts with justice
and speaks the truth from his heart;
he who does not slander with his tongue.
He who does no wrong to his brother,
who casts no slur on his neighbour,
who holds the godless in disdain,
but honours those who fear the Lord.
He who keeps his pledge, come what may;
who takes no interest on a loan
and accepts no bribes against the innocent.
Such a man will stand firm forever.
The just will live in the presence of the Lord.
LUKE 8:16-18
My Soul's Beloved,
Light dispels darkness. Every disciple receives the Holy Spirit and He provides us with the oil of grace to keep the Fire of God's love shining in us. The Love of God is poured freely and generously into the hearts of all His children. You instituted the Sacraments and are perfect channels through which graces stream into our soul. Today You remind us in the Gospel of St. Luke that no one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or puts it under the bed. Sin is the bowl that covers the lighted lamp and extinguishes it. When we are beguiled with temptation and we flirt with the possibility of giving in to it we place the lamp under the bed so we can pretend that we cannot hear the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit to resolutely turn to God and refuse to walk on the broad way that leads to destruction.
You see all. You know all. All we have to do when we are tempted is to turn to You and ask for Your help and then we must take the first step by firmly resolving to never associate with people or places that tempt us to sin. If we do that, Lord, You will do the rest. The more we lean on You as trustingly as a child the greater the graces we will receive to make the right choices and Your Light will shine brightly in us and lead others too to walk in the Way of Truth.
Jesus said to the crowds:
‘No one lights a lamp to cover it with a bowl or to put it under a bed. No, he puts it on a lamp-stand so that people may see the light when they come in. For nothing is hidden but it will be made clear, nothing secret but it will be known and brought to light. So take care how you hear; for anyone who has will be given more; from anyone who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away.’
No comments:
Post a Comment