Living, Moving, Being a Lamp

-

Gregory the Illuminator, Bishop of Armenia, c. 322 - Commemoration

Today's readings:
[ Acts 17:22-31; Ps 33:6-11; Mt 5:11-16 ]

Standing in the Areopagus, St. Paul proclaims a God who is not distant, not confined to temples or human constructs, but One “in whom we live and move and have our being”. This truth resonates deeply with a Franciscan heart. Creation itself is not separate from God’s presence—it is charged with it. Every breath, every creature, every moment becomes an encounter with the Divine.

Psalm 33 echoes this beautifully: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made.” The world is not random or empty; it is spoken into being with intention and love. For St. Francis of Assisi, this meant seeing all creation as brother and sister—Brother Sun, Sister Moon—each reflecting the glory of God. To live rightly, then, is not only to believe in God, but to recognize His fingerprints everywhere.

Yet the Gospel reminds us that this recognition comes with a cost. “Blessed are you when people insult you… on my account.” To live as light in the world is to stand in contrast to it. The light exposes, warms, and guides—but it also draws attention. Discipleship is not meant to be hidden.

The Franciscan call is one of joyful witness. Not loud or prideful, but radiant—like a candle that simply burns because it must. When we live in humility, simplicity, and love, we become that light. Not our own light, but His, shining through us.

And so the question is not whether we will shine—but whether we will allow anything to dim that light.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Choosing Sight and Light

-
Image
Today's Readings: [ 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 ] The readings today invite us to reflect on how God sees and how we see . In the First Book of Samuel, the prophet Samuel assumes that Israel’s next king must surely be the strongest and most impressive of Jesse’s sons. But God corrects him with a lesson that echoes throughout Scripture: “The Lord does not see as mortals see.” Human beings are naturally drawn to outward appearance, status, and strength. God looks instead at the heart. And so the shepherd boy David—the youngest, the overlooked one—is chosen. Psalm 23 reminds us that the Lord is still the shepherd who guides His people. Even when we walk through dark valleys, when the way forward seems uncertain, we are not abandoned. The shepherd sees the path ahead even when we do not. In the Gospel, Jesus heals a man born blind. Yet the miracle reveals more than restored physical sight. The man who had been blind comes to see clearly who Jesus is, ...
Read more

St Patrick's Day - Green Beer Or Radical Love?

-
Image
Today's readings: [  2 Cor 12:14-16, 19; Ps 131; Mt 5:43-48 ] St. Patrick’s Day often brings images of green fields, shamrocks, and joyful celebration (green beer, anyone?). Yet beneath the cultural festivities lies the story of a man who lived the Gospel in a radical way: humility, trust in God, and love even for enemies. Today’s readings trace a quiet but powerful thread through those same virtues. In Psalm 131 , the psalmist says, “I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother.” It is a picture of profound humility—of a heart that does not strive for greatness but rests in God. Franciscan spirituality holds this posture at its core. St. Francis believed that true wisdom begins when we stop grasping for status or control and instead become small before God, trusting Him as a child trusts a loving parent. Paul echoes that same spirit in 2 Corinthians , insisting that he does not seek the possessions of the people he serves but the people themselves. L...
Read more

Bread That Endures

-
Image
Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Teacher of the Faith, 386 - Commemoration Today's readings: [ Wis 7:7, 11-14; Ps 119:33-40; Jn 6:26-35 ] There is a quiet theme running through today's readings: the difference between what satisfies for a moment and what truly gives life. In Wisdom, Solomon does not ask for power, wealth, or long life, but for understanding. And in receiving wisdom, he finds that all other goods fall into place—not as idols to cling to, but as gifts rightly ordered. This is echoed in the psalmist’s plea: “Teach me… give me understanding… turn my eyes from what is worthless.” There is a deep hunger here, not just for knowledge, but for a way of seeing the world as God sees it. Then in the Gospel, Christ names the tension plainly. The crowd seeks Him because they ate their fill. Their hunger was real—but shallow. Jesus invites them deeper: “Do not work for food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life.” And then He reveals the heart of it all:...
Read more