”The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”

Today at Holy Mass Jesus in the Gospel of St Mark tells disciples …..“Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lamp stand? 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”…That means God knows everything - We can not keep anything from him - He sees everything! - That means everything we think, say, thought and did in our life will be brought to light one day……To some degree, we see that lived out in daily life in the here and now…......”We reap what we sow”…..If we sow “the good” consistently, in time our life produces good fruit…And for those who sow “the bad”, in time their life produces bad fruit…..Ultimately we get away with nothing! - Yet mankind lives under the fallacy that they can “get away” with living and doing things that violate both the Natural Law and God’s Holy will……..Consequences are very real - We see them all around us…….This is why St Matthew tells us in his Gospel…..”Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father”…….A Catholic witness is desperately needed in our world today…..People do not believe necessarily what they are told…They believe what they see….And an authentic Catholic witness penetrates even the hardest of hearts…..Such a witness makes people rethink bad choices made and self-reflect…….Are we giving this kind of example to the world?…..Such an example comes from and through the Holy Spirit….Its a product of a mature Catholic faith rooted in Sacramental living, daily prayer and fasting…….Christ must live within us and in order for that to happen, we must give him permission and make room for him…That means “clearing out” many of the “things” the world values……If we do this, our light will surely shine - But in actuality, the light is not our own - It is Christ’s himself shining through us - This is how Catholics impact the world - The only way - By consistent example

“A lamp to my feet is your word, a light to my path”

People notice the “little things”….And its the “little things” that move the hearts of mankind……Simple gestures of “going out of your way” for someone - These gestures resonate deep…….During the COVID era, my father died…He had a long battle with Parkinson’s disease…..At his funeral, not many people attended due to that they were afraid of the hysteria created around the COVID virus……That being said, a friend of mine who I worked with twenty years ago drove one hour to pay his respects to me and my father….When I saw my friend Jack walk into the funeral home, frankly I was blown away!…..Jack’s gesture told me a lot about him as a person…It also meant a lot to me……These “small gestures”, which come from the heart tell the world who we truly are as Catholics - These are the gestures that will resonate with the world around us in a way words never can…..Trust me - People notice authentic Catholic action - And this is how we must live…..”Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father”…….Our world today, as was the world of Jesus Christ’s day is focused on many of the wrong things, which can never make mankind happy nor can these things satisfy us in a lasting way….The world needs to “see” a life fully animated with the life of Christ…This kind of witness “stops traffic” and whether people admit it or not - They all want to live in this manner - Fully of life, joy and peace….Jesus tells us….”A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly”…….God takes nothing from us, he only gives - But telling people this reality will never convince them - You must demonstrate this reality - And then the world will believe and maybe just maybe - The world will change.

“If your sons keep my covenant, and the decrees which I shall teach them, Their sons, too, forever shall sit upon your throne”

Today at Mass, Jesus asks a question - “Is a lamp brought in to be placed under a bushel basket or under a bed, and not to be placed on a lamp stand?……I think we all know the answer to that question - But if we think about it - Do we really? - What is Jesus telling us?….He tells us that the “lamp” which gives “light” is God…And if you allow God to work in your life - Your life will act as a “lamp” to the world…..What else does Jesus imply by this question?….A light reveals Truth - It exposes lies - It opens the eyes to the blind…..A life which embodies the “light of Christ” acts in this manner - Some people will appreciate such a witness and others will not…..Our job as Catholics is to not trouble ourselves with outcomes…Our job is simply to sow seeds, in season and out of season - Let God do the convincing - We are to give what was given to us free of charge!…So let your light shine before men - And you may be surprised - The dark world will respond because light always defeats the darkness and the shadows of this world will flee…………How do I know this to be true? - St John tells us the answer - “What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race”……….”The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it”……..JMJ