 (c)2010 Diane Freeby You are the light of the world! |
| June 12, 2012
Dear Family of Mary!
"I desire that by your example you help sinners regain their sight, enrich their poor souls and bring them back into my embrace. Therefore, pray, pray, fast and confess regularly." (June 2, 2012)
Jesus speaks to us today in the Gospel about being an example:
Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp stand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." (Mt 5:13-16)
Our Lady has chosen us to be salt, to be light. She tells us that by our example, we will help sinners regain their sight. Jesus says the same thing: "your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." Neither of them said that by our preaching or our teaching (or writing reflections ) we would help others regain their sight. No, they mentioned our example, our good deeds. So it is not so much the words we speak, but the way we live that will shine.
Light comes through us almost unconsciously, if we are living a life of trust in God and staying very close to Our Lady. For example, I know a young couple who have put their trust in God by having children, all the children that God sends them. So far they have 6 little ones. Their home is lively and filled with joy. You might say that the light just pours out of the windows, the light of God's love. But when this family goes out into the "world" say on a shopping trip or to a restaurant, they draw many different kinds of responses. Some people are so happy to see how many children they have. Others are a bit uncomfortable, and yet others get quite upset. Clearly the example of openness to life that this little family demonstrates sheds light. And light makes it possible for sinners to regain their sight! Those who love life see only joy. But those who have not chosen such openness or are denying their consciences may find themselves at a moment of choice. Do they regain their sight, turn to God's mercy and accept grace and fall into Mother Mary's embrace? Maybe yes! Maybe they will see the joy of this little family and be drawn by it back to God.
Our example can be very small, but piercingly bright. A smile to a stranger, courtesy while driving, honesty in the check-out lane at the store, patience with a child, forgiveness with no fanfare, respect for an elder or a priest, friendliness to a newcomer, kindness to the representative on the phone (when you have waited an hour to talk to someone!) and on and on. These moments when we choose to love can shine out, helping someone to see hope again, to see kindness, to see God's love in their life. This sight leads to a renewal of the soul, a return to prayer and hope, and a chance for Our Lady to wrap these souls in her mantle of love. We are chosen to be light, to shine for others to see.
One last thought - Our Lady follows that sentence about example with this advice:"Therefore, pray, pray, fast and confess regularly." Being light for others requires energy, combustible energy. That energy for our souls comes through prayer, fasting and confession. Through these marvelous means we open ourselves to the influx of the Holy Spirit. He is our spiritual energy, the fuel we need to burn brightly. Only if we are in conversation with God through prayer, empty enough to receive Him in our soul through fasting, and cleaned out by confession, will we be able to receive the Holy Spirit, the fuel that burns within us as light.
I want to be a light for Jesus, and I know that you do too! Let's not bury ourselves under bushel baskets, through timidity, fear, or sloth. Let's burn brightly, right out in the open. Our example will help Our Lady to triumph in the hearts of her children.
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2012 |
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