Light of the world reflection

"You are the Light of the World."

To be a light for Christ in the world is to have the awareness that we belong to God in Christ Jesus.

In a moving scene of Les Miserables, the Bishop forgave Jean Valjean for stealing his expensive candlesticks.  When asked why, the Bishop said: "Jean Valjean, my brother.  You no longer belong to evil.  With these candlesticks, I purchased your soul.  I have ransomed you from fear and hatred.  I give you back to God."

Similarly, The Lord ransomed our souls by paying the ultimate price.  Being the sacrificial Lamb of God, he purchase our souls by his blood, shed on the Holy Cross.  So that he may entrust our souls back to the Heavenly Father.  

Because we belong to God in Christ, every manner of operation must be seen in God.  That means to see everything as a blessing or a blessing in disguise.  

In the Markan intercalation, both Jairus and the woman hemorrhaging for 12 years, experience great tragedies.  Nevertheless, it was an opportunity to witness the revelation of Christ's divinity.  At the moment the Woman risk touching the hem of Christ's garment, she was healed.  And trusting Christ, Jairus' daughter was raised from the dead.  

Reflecting the light of Christ means be grateful to God in good times, but in times of trials and distress, it may be an opportunity to entrust our soul in its entirety to Almighty God.  It also can be opportunity to be purged and purified of pride so as to develop a humble need for actual graces.  And lastly, it may be an opportunity for the soul to develop spiritual muscles like fortitude and perseverance.

Even the worst happenstance may be a blessing because the soul is aware that it belongs to Almighty God and God is always in control.  A person of faith in the face of difficulty could see in a bad thing a good thing.  Because their eyes have already been attuned to eternal life.  

For instance, when St Therese of Liseux had TB, instead of feeling self pity, she was grateful to Almighty God knowing eternal life is knocking at her door.

Certainly, it is not to desire the Express Way to heaven because God is in the driver seat.  But a person of faith is conscious that Almighty God orders all of creation.  And we belong within that realm of God's majestic and glorious kingdom.  God loves you!