Don't Stay in the Dark

Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me, sees the one who sent me. I, the light, have come into the world, so that whoever believes in me need not stay in the dark any more.Jn.12:44-46

Jesus is declaring publicly who he is and what his mission is... to dispel darkness with light.

Outside my window a glorious sunrise is unfolding. Most crime happens at night. Dark attracts dark deeds. To combat crime we install security lighting. Light dispels darkness.

Spiritual security lighting in my life dispels spiritual darkness. Reading the Bible, prayer, receiving the sacraments all bring the light of Christ into my life. Darkness from the evil one is dispelled. This morning prayer time is a huge floodlight into my life. I need not stay in the dark any more.

Thank you Jesus for the call you place on me each morning. Help me be as faithful to you so I may receive your light and be a light for others.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Joyful Seed Caster

I have told you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name are my witness; but you do not believe because you are no sheep of mine.

Jn.10:25,26

Jesus is in the temple and the Jews goad him to say plainly who he is. Jesus knows no amount of  words or works will convince them.

The same is true today. There are those who are open and those who are closed. All deserve to be told the Good News but don't keep hammering at the closed. They are a brick wall. Move on with the open.

Alpha is like this. The seed is cast into all hearts. Some hearts are rocky, others fertile ground. My role, I guess, is just to be a joyful seed-caster.

Jesus, you know what it is to be rejected. Help me not be dejected when rejected but always full of hope and joy.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.

Life to the Full

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full.Jn.10:10

Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees who are investigating him over the healing of a blind man on the Sabbath. He describes himself as the only gate to the sheepfold. He states following any other leads to death where he has come to bring fullness of life.

Jn.10:10 is a favourite verse. It states clearly the mission of Satan and the mission of Jesus. It's a no-brainer. I choose Jesus.

Thank you Jesus for the fullness of life you bring me. Help me know your voice so I may always follow only you.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Further Up and Further In

The churches throughout Judaea, Galilee and Samaria were now left in peace, building themselves up, living in the fear of the Lord, and filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit.Acts.9:31

Following Saint Paul's conversion there was a time of peace for the fledgling Church. This was not a time of inactivity. The Church built itself up preached the Good News and worked powerful signs and miracles.

The contemporary Church, although marginalised ridiculed and scandalised, is in relative peace. In our country at least, we aren't being dragged off to prison or stoned. But are we building ourselves up, living in the fear of the Lord, being filled with the Holy Spirit while performing miracles? Peace can be soporific, lulling me into inertia.

This time of pandemic has been a wake up for me. On the other side I don't want to fall back asleep. What do I want to take from this unique time of spiritual awakening? I've had increased time with God and ironically, increased time with others through phone calls and social media. This can be a starting point for a new "building up" of my faith life.

Jesus, I know there is more for me. Lead me further up and further in.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Right Place Right Heart

Then Ananias went. He entered the house, and at once laid his hands on Saul...Acts 9:17

Saul has been led blind into Damascus after encountering Jesus on the road. Ananias, a disciple in Damascus, is commissioned by Jesus to lay hands on Saul to heal and baptise him. Reluctantly, Ananias goes and Saul is healed of his blindness and baptised in the Holy Spirit.

I love a good testimony and this is a good testimony. It has the before, during and after ingredients. I wonder at Ananias the reluctant evangelist. Imagine being one who has led Saint Paul to Jesus. We hear nothing further about Ananias and yet he was pivotal in the spreading of the message to the pagans by Saint Paul. He was at the right place with the right heart.

Being at the right place with the right heart is something I can aspire to. Who knows what can come from doing my "bit" when prompted? I may lead a future saint to Jesus.

Lord Jesus, like Ananias I am often reluctant to your promptings. Like Ananias, help me be trusting and go anyway.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Life of the World

I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.Jn.6:51

The crowds have clamored after Jesus looking for another miracle of loaves. Jesus resists their demands and relentlessly proclaims who he is, bread from heaven, and what he came for, to be food for the life of the world.

The world. That's a big mission but that's who Jesus came to give life to. Like Philip in today's first reading from Acts, I'm to be led by the Spirit to people who are looking for an explanation of this fundamental of Jesus' proclamations. "Eat my flesh, drink my blood."

Jesus, many turned away from you, finding this teaching too hard. Help me be a witness to the good news that you are the life of the world.
Little Flower, please pray for me.

Faith Hope Joy

Through him you now have faith in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory for that very reason – so that you would have faith and hope in God.1Pt.1:21

The Holy Spirit has just filled Peter and the others in the upper room. A crowd gathers because of the noise and Peter addresses them with boldness about the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Peter essentially outlines the paschal mystery, Christ has died, Christ risen, Christ will come again. This is at the very core of my Catholic faith. As Peter declares, this is the reason for my hope in God. The natural result of of such hope is joy. Today I continue live as an Easter person, one of faith, hope and joy.

Jesus, fill me with Easter joy this day that I may be a witness to you and your resurrection.
Little Flower, please pray for me.
Saint Philip Neri, please pray for me.