[Salvation]

Lighting the World with Christ

• Homily of the Day
• September 24th, 2012
• Food For Thought

Monday, September 24, 2012 by Food for Thought

FirstReading: Prv 3:27-34
Psalm: Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5
Gospel: Lk 8:16-18

If we have received a lot of graces from the Lord, it is not meant to just keep them for ourselves. It is meant to be multiplied and to touch other people. That is why in Lumen Gentium, the Church is
considered light of the nations. The Christians are called to illuminate, to enlighten others, not in the sense of lording over them, but in allowing themselves, like a light bulb slowly dying as its energy is being used up, to lighten the lives of other people.

It is also like salt, where salt needs to dissolve to give taste to the whole world. The light and the taste here is love. Where a man possesses the spirit of Christ, he will receive much more, much more faith, much more wisdom and much more love.

By virtue of our baptism, we are tasked to announce the Light of the World – Jesus Christ , who came into the world to save mankind out of love. This is the good news that must be put on a lampstand so all people may know of the goodness of God all around the world.

[Salvation]

One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body

 

<< Monday, September 24, 2012 >>

Proverbs 3:27-34
View Readings

Psalm 15:2-5

Luke 8:16-18

"CLOTHED AND IN HIS RIGHT MIND"(Mk 5:15, our transl.)

"When He is dealing with the arrogant, He is stern, but to the humble He shows kindness." —Proverbs 3:34

 

God is love (1 Jn 4:16). God is loving us perfectly and will love us always. The question is: "Will His love be 'tough love' or kind love?" We decide the answer to this question by deciding whether or not to humble ourselves. Proverbs 3:34 teaches that the best way to love arrogant people is to correct, discipline, and punish them so that they will come to their senses and repent. In contrast, the way to love the humble is to exalt them (Mt 23:12). How will you choose to be loved?

Proverbs 3:34, which reveals God's dealings with the arrogant and the humble, is repeated by the author of First Peter (1 Pt 5:5). This verse elaborates on the proverb by placing it in the context of humility in relationships, especially for young men in relation to old men. He commands us to "clothe" ourselves with humility (1 Pt 5:5). We are called not just to be humble in some circumstances but to have total coverage in our humility.

Are you fully clothed in humility, or are you skimpily clad? Put all your clothes on (Mk 5:15), and let God love you with kindness.

 

Prayer: Father, may I not only have my armor on (see Eph 6:13) but also my clothes (see Col 3:12).

Promise: "No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel basket or under a bed; he puts it on a lampstand so that whoever comes in can see it." —Lk 8:16

Praise: Young Keith prays a rosary each night before going to bed.