https://www.regnumchristi.org/en/january-31-2019-let-christs-light-shine/
January 31, 2019 – Let Christ’s Light Shine
Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest
Mark 4:21-25
He said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lampstand? For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light. Anyone who has ears to hear ought to hear.” He also told them, “Take care what you hear. The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you, and still more will be given to you. To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”
Introductory Prayer: Lord, thank you for reminding me today of my dignity as a Christian. By your grace in baptism and by your teaching in the gospels and in the Church, you have put light in my soul. Lord, you are my light.
Petition: Christ, help me to be a sincere witness of your light.
Transparency in Our Lives: God sees us. This is a simple truth—an extremely powerful truth. God looks at us with love. We cannot hide from God. We cannot hide from ourselves. We cannot even hide from others. We need to live in the presence of God. God lets light shine on our lives so that we can see the truth about ourselves, and so that we need not be ashamed that others see the truth about who we are. True happiness is preserved and increased by the tenacious living of sincerity.
Light for the World: Our life is not just for ourselves. We are called to be a gift for others, a gift that leads them to God. This is the greatest thing about our life: We are called to give life. We are called to participate in the fruitfulness of God. We give life by enlightening others. We help other people come to the light by trying sincerely to go clearly towards the light and by not fearing to show people the truth. The light shed by our lives produces a real effect in souls. Vatican II reminds us that modern man needs reasons for hope. A Christian carries hope. Will I keep it hidden; perhaps even kill it by being afraid to share it? Or will I let the world receive hope? Will I let the world see that we all can be much greater than we think because our Father is greater than we think?
Standing up for the Light of Truth to Be Lived: Moral relativism seems to be the norm for our times. Many people think that they can decide what principles they will live by, instead of seeking to form their consciences by principles in accordance with God’s loving design for the human person. Am I content merely to follow what I know to be right, or do I also look to enlighten the consciences of others, prudently and charitably? Have I ever given the impression of condoning actions that are wrong? Do I take an interest in promoting the value of life in all of its stages? Am I courageous in nobly defending others when people criticize them behind their backs?
Conversation with Christ: Lord, thank you for this calling. You have given light to my soul so that I can be a light for others. Lord, help me to have confidence in the power of your light: the power of your truth and grace. Let me be brave enough to allow this light to penetrate my soul even more today. Let me be brave enough to not hide from your light; let me be brave enough to give it to others.
Resolution: I will enlighten my conscience better about a point of our faith or morals by looking it up in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (It can be found on-line at http://www.vatican.va if needed).
https://catholicexchange.com/207753-2
January 31, 2019
We sometimes say we listen with one ear and let it go out the other ear. This is not real listening but mere hearing. We do this when we don’t really like to listen to what is being communicated to us. In other words, we don’t even care for the one communicating with us.
Jesus in the Gospel reading of today is challenging his listeners when he says, “Listen if you have ears!” Jesus is teaching his disciples and the people who wanted to listen to him. His teaching would sometimes make the listeners come to a dilemma whether to keep on listening or just shrug their shoulders and go. For Jesus, to listen to him is to let his words penetrate our innermost being. It means to let his words transform our hearts, our life, our whole person – to become like him. And to be like him is to let our life be seen by others in our witnessing . . . our being made in the image and likeness of God, our being brothers and sisters of Jesus.
So when others see us, they see Jesus. This is real transformation when we know how to listen to his words and live it. It is like the lamp then that has to be placed where it can give light to others. Isn’t this beautiful! We let this light of Christ invade our whole being so we can be light for others.
Are we ready to listen not only with our ears but also with our hearts? Do we care about Jesus’ way of transforming us into his likeness? How can we make our light shine in the midst of people around us?