Light in the Darkness

Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. For every one that asketh, receiveth: and he that seeketh, findeth: and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Or what man is there among you, of whom if his son shall ask bread, will he reach him a stone? Or if he shall ask him a fish, will he reach him a serpent? If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more will your Father who is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him? All things therefore whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you also to them. For this is the law and the prophets.
Matthew 7:7-12 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father so many times I've often heard it said that peoples prayers go unanswered. Some have turned away from you because of this. Their faith wasn't strong enough to sustain their trial. Is it possible that what they were asking for wasn't what they needed and they were only looking for, but a quick fix. Like many out there with addictions. They found their loyalty in something else that would take away their pain. Jesus knew their heart enough to tell us how to pray, how to ask you. But most importantly, how not to give up. The world we live in dear Father is full of suffering in many forms, I come to you this day and ask to heal these addictions that often takes away a persons soul. Be it in the form of drug, alcohol, hidden addiction, perversions and so much more. Be a light in their darkness so when they pray for deliverance from the evil that has taken hold of them, they may find freedom and healing. Restore their hope and love in you and forever banish the evil that has kept your people in bondage. Amen

Let There be Light

Memorial of Saint John Bosco, priest


And he said to them: Doth a candle come in to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? For there is nothing hid, which shall not be made manifest: neither was it made secret, but that it may come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said to them: Take heed what you hear. In what measure you shall mete, it shall be measured to you again, and more shall be given to you. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, that also which he hath shall be taken away from him.
Mark 4:21-25 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father your Son was so smart, it's no wonder that you sent him to fix us. Look at what he did for those who lived over 2000 years ago. Some of whom became shining examples for us, most especially your Son Jesus. His light was the brightest of all, and we in our time try so very hard to stifle it. Just listen to those around us and often we hear his name used, not in a nice way either. Their light is but a tiny smoldering wick. We all should be bright beacons of light, filled with joy. Except our lights glow at different degrees, depending on our faith and our love for God and each other. The more we love the brighter we burn and the light that shines through us reaches farther into the depths of darkness. Imagine how wonderful the world would be when we would all glow from the light of love.

Paths

And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea. And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by Isaias the prophet, saying: A voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. And the same John had his garment of camels' hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea, and all the country about Jordan: And were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins. And seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them: Ye brood of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of penance. And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father. For I tell you that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
For now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doth not yield good fruit, shall be cut down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you in the water unto penance, but he that shall come after me, is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire. Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his floor and gather his wheat into the barn; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.
Matthew 3:1-12 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father you know our hearts, our thoughts and our souls. You gather us together and teach us repentance for our sins. You teach us forgiveness and love. You sent us John the Baptist to prepare us for the coming of your Son. Have we forgotten his message to repent of our evil ways and make our paths straight. I am reminded of a dream I once had where my path was leading me, but in it I saw that on the way I veered off and took another route to my destination. That other route was in darkness all the while the one path that I was headed was the light of God. Sin causes our paths to end up crooked and not straight at all. Why did this come to me this particular time, maybe as a way of pointing out that our paths lead to God, but in our journey we often let sin mar the way. For me it was a turning point in my life where I chose to follow God and to repent of my sins so I may be on the right path that leads to eternal salvation. He is my hope in this otherwise dark world we live in. We have choices in the direction we travel, I pray it will be the one that leads to the light of our Lord and not the one that is nothing but darkness. Amen

Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son,
so that everyone who believes in him might not perish
but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned,
but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,
because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.
And this is the verdict,
that the light came into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light,
because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light
and does not come toward the light,
so that his works might not be exposed.
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light,
so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
John 3:16-21

Prayer

Dear Father you gave us your Son, a light in the darkness. He is a beacon for all to see. Once we have known this light there is no going back to darkness. Jesus is the way, the truth and the light for the world. May we be forever drawn to the light of the way to your everlasting heart of love. Amen