The Light Which Guides Us

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2019 6:29 pm Post subject: The Light Which Guides Us

The Light Which Guides Us

Scripture:

Arise, be enlightened, O Jerusalem: for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold darkness shall cover the earth, and a mist the people: but the Lord shall arise upon you, and his glory shall be seen upon you. And the Gentiles shall walk in your light, and kings in the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes round about, and see: all these are gathered together, they are come to you: your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall rise up at your side. Then shall you see, and abound, and your heart shall wonder and be enlarged, when the multitude of the sea shall be converted to you, the. strength of the Gentiles shall come to you. The multitude of camels shall cover you, the dromedaries of Madian and Epha: all they from Saba shall come, bringing gold and frankincense: and showing forth praise to the Lord.
(Isaiah 60:1-6)

If yet you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me towards you: How that, according to revelation, the mystery has been made known to me.

Which in other generations was not known to the sons of men, as it is now revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit: That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and co-partners of his promise in Christ Jesus, by the gospel:
(Ephesians 3:2-3A, 5-6)

When Jesus therefore was born in Bethlehem of Juda, in the days of king Herod, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem. Saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to adore him. And king Herod hearing this, was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And assembling together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where Christ should be born. But they said to him: In Bethlehem of Juda. For so it is written by the prophet:

And you Bethlehem the land of Juda are not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of you shall come forth the captain that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, privately calling the wise men, learned diligently of them the time of the star which appeared to them; and sending them into Bethlehem, said: Go and diligently inquire after the child, and when you have found him, bring me word again, that I also may come to adore him. Who having heard the king, went their way; and behold the star which they had seen in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was. And seeing the star they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

And entering into the house, they found the child with Mary his mother, and falling down they adored him; and opening their treasures, they offered him gifts; gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having received an answer in sleep that they should not return to Herod, they went back another way into their country.
(Matthew 2:1-12)

Reflection:

In darkness, our ability to navigate is diminished, but with the light, we are able to see distances and are able to recognize danger from afar. In the darkness, that which would do us harm is often difficult to detect, especially that which lies in wait for our steps to come near.

If we do not know light, then, we have nothing against which to compare the darkness. Even if we are told what light is, but have not experienced it, then, we can guess, but we cannot fully comprehend how it enables us. Blessed are those who have experienced light, for by their experience, they understand its power to reveal.

The prophet spoke of the light, and some imagined what it might expose, but until the light came about them were they able to appreciate what God intended for them to see. Even in the moment of experience, a choice remains, to accept what the light reveals or to close one's eyes in an attempt to regain the illusion lived within the darkness.

And so it was, so the world might comprehend, God sent His only begotten Son as the Light by which every heart might see, (cf. John 1:4) but so many preferred the darkness and turned away from what the Light exposes. (cf. John 3:19-21) Still, the Light continues to shine so that all who desire to learn what the Light reveals, may see. If we allow ourselves to fully experience the Light, then, we are better prepared to avoid that which is set to trap and consume us. If we allow ourselves to fully experience the Light, then we shall follow its warmth so we might bask in its blessings.

God led the Magi with a star so that they might find the child who is the ultimate Light. Having seen, they could not help but adore. But a star is not the only light by which God works to open the eyes of the heart. He sent the Light of His Word so that just as one candle may light another, so too, may the Light of the world be passed from heart to heart.

And so it was, before the Light prepared to leave the world, He asked His Father to send another Light, the Light of the Holy Spirit so that we might be reminded of all which the Son taught. (cf. John 14:26) If we desire to experience the Light, which the Magi had traveled such great distances to see, then we may turn to another star, the star of His holy Church. (cf. Matthew 16:16-19)

It is not a star of great distance such that we may only see, but never experience its warmth; it is a star within our midst through which we may experience the blessings of the full warmth of the Light. It is a star which invites us within so we may receive the instruction of His Word, so we may receive Him within our hearts, so we may experience the blessings of the fullness of faith.

What, then, might cause us to turn away? Perhaps it is the fear of what we do not know. Perhaps it is the efforts of the one who seeks to distract us, so we are lured to turn away such that we may never feel the blessings of warmth which only the Light can provide. No matter what may be done by the darkness, it cannot extinguish the Light (cf. John 1:5).

We can close the eyes of our heart to the Light, but that does not keep it from shining. Such action only keeps us from experiencing the blessings it reveals and obscures the harm which awaits us in the darkness. Let us, then, follow the path of the Light, so we may share in the blessings of its eternal warmth.

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways may we look for the Light through which God reveals?

In what ways may we help others to turn and experience the blessings of the Light?

In what ways does the Light enable our sight?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier