Set Apart...Sent Forth...to Shine

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 12:24—13:5a ~~~ Psalm 67 ~~~ John 12:44-50 ~~~

 

'...Set apart for...

...the work to which I have called them...

...sent forth by the Holy Spirit...'

 

Through our Baptism we have each been set apart.

Through our Confirmation we have been sent forth by the Holy Spirit.

Now how we live our life speaks louder than the words we might speak.

 

How do you respond knowing that you have been set apart?

How does this make you different?

 

Some may erroneously believe they have been set apart for the wrong reasons.

God will never set you apart to cause harm or destruction

to another person.

We are set apart by God to do good...to pray for others...

to treat others justly with compassion.

We are set apart to be a conduit of God's love.

 

It is true that because we are frail humans

we sometimes fail to live up to the mission for which God has called us.

But he is a patient God who is there to light the path of return.

 

May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth

 

The psalmist draws from the blessing in the Book of Numbers.

Part of the blessing is requesting God to let his face shine upon us.

The God of light shines his benevolent face of grace

upon all who call upon his name.

 

 

Without this light of truth and goodness;

we would be forever lost within the darkness that obscures the world.

 

I came into the world as light,

I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.

 

In spite of this darkness Jesus brings forth the light

which is from God

which is of God.

God is the source of all light.

He is the Creator of the Light.

Jesus is the manifestation of this light for us to witness.

We come to learn and love God best through

knowledge and love for his Son, Jesus.

 

The presence of the Son makes the love of the Father more real.

Our God is truly an awesome God...

a God who saves in as many ways as possible.

If we ask for forgiveness we will be granted it.

 

May the light of Christ shine out to all of the world through each of us.

 

The Easter Blessing

of being set apart and sent forth.

Bring the Light of Christ with wherever you go.

May God let his face shine upon you!

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!

Illuminate Goodness

 

~~~ Proverbs 3: 27-34 ~~~ Psalm 15 ~~~ Luke 8:16-18 ~~~

 

If you are a good person you will shine brightly.

God urges us to extend our good will towards others...

just as he did.

 

God desires for all people to get along.

God desires us to put quarreling and envy aside.

These serve no purpose if you are living your life with the Lord.

 

The Lord delights in the humble one; he shows them kindness.

 

The Proverbs have a slight echo of what we hear in the ten commandments.

 

If you can maintain your goodness in the face of temptation

you will be a light to others.

 

It takes being constantly aware of how you are acting towards others

for your light to shine.

If we are not vigilant in striving to be a better person,

our light will become dim.

If you let little negative things enter into your heart

your light will gradually become dim.

This will happen over time thus you may not even notice,

until one day you discover you no longer have any light left to shine.

 

We need the light not only to shine for others, but for ourselves.

We need to be able to see inside to look at our hearts...

this requires the light of humility.

 

 

I think herein lies the tension...

How do you let your light shine forth and still remain humble?

How do you do right and just things and not let it go to our head?

 

Doing right does not mean that you broadcast it from the rooftops.

The good person does not require acknowledgment.

The good person does not require

the 'job well done' accompanied by a hearty whack on the back.

 

God does not give you pats on the back for doing the right things...

He just expects you will.

 

Living in goodness does require you to take certain actions.

Your goodness must be exemplified by your actions.

It is much easier to reach out to others in loving care

if you first have it in your own heart.

 

I invite you to pause today; 

 imagine what your

heart looks like filled with goodness.

 

This goodness is the light that expels all darkness.

The darkness of temptation and sin.

The darkness of evil, war, and jealousy.

 

This light is given to us by God as he sees fit.

Place this light on a lamp stand for all to see as they enter

into your personal space.

No one can see your light if you keep it locked inside.

 

Light is meant to make visible that which otherwise

would remain in the darkness.

 

Your light is needed in this world!

Please let it illuminate the way for others.