Splendor of the Light

~~~Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time~~~

 

~~~ Daniel 12: 1-3 ~~~ Psalm 16 ~~~ Hebrews 10:11=14,18 ~~~ Mark 13:24-32 ~~~

 

We are fascinated by light and equally fascinated

with speculation about our after life.

We believe God is light!

We find many creative ways to use light.

Not only is light useful from the stand point that it allows us to see in the dark;

we use light to decorate our environment too.

 

We are already beginning to see holiday lights adorning buildings and streets.

We light candles in our churches and on our dining room tables.

We keep flashlights on our bedside table.

 

We value light. It would stressful to even imagine our world without light.

 

Today the prophet Daniel speaks to us of how brightly

the wise will shine in the end. 

We want to be among those who will shine brightly.

We want to come into the light of God's glory.

We want our light to somehow be absorbed into the heavenly light.

 

"But the wise shall shine brightly
like the splendor of the firmament,
and those who lead the many to justice
shall be like the stars forever."

 

 

The idea of shining like a star forever is awesome to contemplate.

Just as God created the sun and the moon and the stars to shine brightly

he also created us to shine.

 

Perhaps being in our human bodies we are not able to shine as fully

 as God intends for us to shine.

 

But if we let the Word of God be a light for our path we will be among those

glorifying the Lord for all of eternity.

 

"...Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away."

The words of the Lord or truth and beauty.

His promises will be fulfilled in the end.

The Light of the World will be all that is left to shine.

Our souls will join in the eternal light.

We will be united together....all of those who believe...

united in the 'slendor of the filament'.

 

The Lord bless you and hold you in his light.

Shine as you were meant to shine...

reflecting the glory of the Lord.

What the world needs today is more light from those who hope in the Lord.

That would you and me!