May the Lord bless with peace and grace in the Holy Spirit.
“The measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you.” (Mk.4:24)
It is 27th January 2022. We reflect on Samuel 7:18-19, 24-29 and Mark 4:21-25. We celebrate the memorial of St. Angela Merici, virgin and foundress, and a patron of teachers and educators for her remarkable contributions in providing education for girl children.
Generosity generates generational blessings. Our stinginess is not an expression of saving, but it is a sign of insecurity.
Despite all his sinful life, David remains a model king of Israel for his faithfulness to God. We hear him praying gratefully, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far?
In Marianne Williamson’s book, A Return to Love, she reminds us: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?”
The courage to pray, confess, praise, believe and even to give comes when we are grateful to God for all that God has done to us even if we feel unworthy. God is committed to loving us even when we have committed innumerable sins.
Light of faith shines bright with the flames of charity. Light symbolizes the witnessing life of a disciple of Christ. The light dies out gradually in the absence of charity. The faith we have received is to be shared with others not to be kept within ourselves. It is not about keeping our faith intact to radiate it to the full we all need to do. “To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” (Mk.4:25). Faith is a gift from God. If we do not use it, we lose it indeed by time.
There is no need to hide the light of faith out of fear. Let us allow the light of faith to shine out as we give the best. One of the ways of radiating the light of faith is by giving. St. Francis of Assisi prayed: “It is in giving that we receive.”
What are the ways and means by which we allow the light of Christ to shine out before others? May God bless you.