Blessed Are Those Who See His Light

Prayer-Soldier

Blessed Are Those Who See His Light

Scripture:

At the first time the land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephtali was lightly touched: and at the last the way of the sea beyond the Jordan of the Galilee of the Gentiles was heavily loaded. The people that walked in darkness, have seen a great light: to them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light is risen. You have multiplied the nation, and have not increased the joy. They shall rejoice before you, as they that rejoice in the harvest, as conquerors rejoice after taking a prey, when they divide the spoils. For the yoke of their burden, and the rod of their shoulder, and the scepter of their oppressor you have overcome, as in the day of Madian. (Isaiah 9:1-4)

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there be no schisms among you: but that you be perfect in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been signified unto me, my brethren, of you, by them that are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you said: I indeed am of Paul; and I am of Apollo; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul then crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of speech, lest the cross of Christ should be made void. (1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17)

And when Jesus had heard that John was delivered up, he retired into Galilee: And leaving the city Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capharnaum on the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and of Nephthalim; That it might be fulfilled which was said by Isaias the prophet: Land of Zabulon and land of Nephthalim, the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people that sat in darkness, have seen great light: and to them that sat in the region of the shadow of death, light is sprung up.

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say: Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea (for they were fishers). And he said to them: Come after me, and I will make you to be fishers of men. And they immediately leaving their nets, followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets: and he called them. And they forthwith left their nets and father, and followed him. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom: and healing all manner of sickness and every infirmity, among the people. (Matthew 4:12-23)

Reflection:

And so it has been through the generations that lands and kingdoms of great promise have fallen to ruin. The greatness built by the selflessness of some is rendered to ruble by the selfishness of others. Prosperity of the time comes not just of the sharing of words and speeches, but its roots are in the works of many hands coming freely together to care for one another. It is selfishness which lures our pursuits away from the true source of joy and to the gloom of darkness. We might wonder, how is it that those with so much are so angry and unhappy while those with so little find the light and joy of each day? It is because that which fulfills our heart with blessings is not of this world, but the love which begins with Him.

He is the light and blessed are the people who follow the light, for as they turn the day to His worship, they share amongst themselves that of which He asks of all the children of His creation; to love Him and to love one another. He did not come to harvest what is of the world, for His is the kingdom of light and the darkness of the world has no place in His light. No, He came to harvest for His kingdom the souls filled abundantly with love, for in our creation, He planted the seeds of love and left with us the responsibility to nourish it and to let it grow so that in the last day He may gather all of its yield into the kingdom of eternity. Love is the light of the heart and as the people follow His light, the light within them too shall grow.

As those of the land seek leaders of their day, so often they are betrayed by tongues and promises of the world. In their misery and despair, they unleash their own tongues as swords to the heart to wound and hurt. As the people increase in conflict, they ignore the light, for they do not speak of His truths, but of that which divides them. Kings promise spoils to the people through which to receive their allegiance, but nothing can be given which is not first grown or built. Tyrants may only give what they steel, therefore, the gain for the people is ill gotten and comes from at the expense of those who toiled.

He did not come to the world telling the children of His creation to take from one another, rather, He called them to give to one another; for what is given from the hands and sweat of another is empty, rather, what is given from the hands and sweat of self is given in love; and when the one who produces in love is gone, where, then, will be those who live only off the spoils of others? They will be left only to consume themselves.

He did not come to the world to share the Word so that the children of His creation may argue amongst themselves as to the meaning of the Word, but so that they may receive the Word and live the Word so that they may receive that which will bring light to their soul. He came to teach and to commission those who would teach after Him; but He also warned of those who would twist His words, those who would seek to lure His sheep to the darkness.

He knew the evil one would seek to seduce the children of His creation away from Him by tearing at every fabric of love. He gave to us the responsibility to form and care for new life which comes from the miracle of the joining of a man and woman. It was His intent that through the love between man and woman, new life would spawn in the light of that love, to share in that love and from which love might spread. We, then, should not be surprised when the evil one seeks to sow divisions between man and woman and parent and child, for if he tears at the love which binds the family, he also tears at the love which binds the children of His creation to Him.

We, then, should not be surprised when the evil one sends false prophets to walk among us to sow confusion and conflict. We, then, should not be surprised that the evil one seduces us to judge one another and harbor ill feelings against each other. No matter how the evil one fills our heart with hate, he succeeds, even if we deceive ourselves by saying it is alright to hate those who do not follow Him.

Even if we speak His Word with all perfection, we sin if we do not allow our hands to be guided by what He revealed to us, for the true light of love comes from both the sharing of His Word and living the example of His Word. We fail in the sharing of His Word if we leave the sinner alone in the street, for they will be left to the hands of the evil one and the darkness which will consume their soul. We cannot pull them from the darkness against their will, but we can reveal the light by extending a hand of love through which we also extend both His hand of love and the truth of the light. We cannot, then, share the full blessings of the gospel only by the words of human eloquence, rather we must also seek to preach the gospel by our daily works.

He called together His apostles so that He might teach them, but also so that as they learn, they may go amongst the people and do of His works. Those who witnessed, heard Him, but they also saw the healing which came from Him. As He walked the land, many saw the truth of His light. Many would talk and share what eye had seen and ear had heard; but what was done was not just for the moment, but for the generations. From the twelve, others would learn, but even the twelve would leave the world. Who, then, would share the light brought unto the world unless it is those who form and raise the generations?

He told Peter that Peter was rock and upon that rock He would build His church. He promised Peter that the gates of the netherworld would not be able to over come it. His church is not of one man, but all who come to it in faith. The responsibility to share the light and truth does not fall just upon the prophets, but all who are called to live as examples of His Word. We may have learned of him as spectators, but we cannot profess to be of His church if we do not live by His Word. We cannot share the truth if we only listen but do not practice. What we believe is found in what we say and what we do not say, in what we do and what we fail to do.

Blessed are those who follow Him, for they follow the light brought to the world. Blessed are those who follow the light brought to the world, for they have the opportunity to share in the Word of truth. Blessed are those who share in the Word of truth, for as they live and share of it, they will be guided to the eternal kingdom of heaven.

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