Reflect the Light of Christ

I took this picture on a rooftop of a friend's house. I was struck by the beauty and splendor of the moonlight. Generally we know that the moon's light is a reflection of the sun's. But as I read...

"The real mystery is why does the moon reflect at all. Like most objects in space, the Moon possesses a reflective characterisitic called albedo. Albedo is how well an object reflects light. This characteristic seems pretty straight forward. Material like ice and snow have very reflective albedos. Land and Greenery have very low reflective albedos. What makes the moon so interesting is that it has the same Albedo as coal. That means that it has almost no reflective quality up close. " http://www.universetoday.com/75891/why-does-the-moon-shine/#ixzz2fejsFkUb

How high is our reflective characteristic -- our spiritual albedo? How well do we reflect Christ's light? When we encourage people to succeed, we often tell them, "It's your time to shine." But like the moon, we cannot produce our own light. Everytime we try to "shine" by our own efforts, we end up proud and conceited. True light can only come from the Son reflected through a humble spirit. A better encouragement would be, "It's HIS time to shine."

Let us remember:

1. Receive His light daily

 Numbers 6:25  The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!

By God's grace, through daily prayer and especially the Eucharist, we receive His holy light that illumines our minds and hearts to reflect His glory.

2. We are Children of Light

Ephesians 5:8  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

 Jesus brings us out of the darkness of our own sin and pride. We are God's children, bringing the Father's light to overcome the temptations that call us to hide in the shadows.
 

3. We shine Christ to others

As the classic praise song declares -- shine Jesus shine! The presence of Christ radiates through our smiles, our humble posture, and the love we give.

 

Like how the moon is likened to coal because of it's high reflective quality, we too, must remember that God's radiance can only shine if we remember who we are---our own insignificance---in relation to the light of Jesus.  Yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me. Galatians 2:20.

 

 

How is Christ reflected in your daily actions?

 

 

 

Christ, the King of Our Lives

Once a month, we congregate in Christ the King Parish for a teaching in Couples for Christ. I come to reflect on my relationship with Christ as my King. An encyclical of Pope Pius XI called Quas Primas (latin for In the first) talks extensively about Christ as our King. It was written for the purpose of promulgating the Feast of Christ The King in 1925. I'd like to quote section 13 of the encyclical, "The foundation of this power and dignity of Our Lord is rightly indicated by Cyril of Alexandria. "Christ," he says, "has dominion over all creatures, a dominion not seized by violence nor usurped, but his by essence and by nature." 

What are the things in our lives that are itching for lordship?  We can get a hint on this in the scene of Christ's temptation in the desert (Luke 4:1-13). These lord-wanna-be's can potentially usurp Christ's Lordship over our lives if we do not defend our souls from them: the lords of the flesh, money and power, and applause.  These lords can do a guerilla warfare with our minds and hearts or do a hostile take over if we are open and vulnerable due to a lack of prayer.

Let us shun these worldly lords and declare allegiance to the Lord of lords, the King of kings -- Jesus Christ. When Christ the King reigns in our hearts, all the temptations will lose their appeal. Our fealty to Jesus will save us. Our King will defend us. Jesus is the King crucified who bought our freedom from the worldly kingdom of the evil one. Now that we have been ransomed by the King's blood, let us not waste the freedom given us. Let us bring others to discover the life Christ is offering in His Kindgdom.

1. How are the lords of flesh, money, power, and applause trying to lure you to their kingdoms?
2. What are you going to do to express your fealty to Christ the King? 

Ride the Wave of the Spirit

I was delighted to see surfers on the Bagasbas beach in Daet, Camarines Norte. In the Philippines, surfing is quite rare. Since the Bagasbas shore is facing the Pacific, the waves are there. Both local and foreign surfers were riding the waves! They were patiently waiting and sensing for the right wave. And when the wave came, they had to act immediately, or they'd miss it.

Surfing the net, I came across a comment on how one feels when riding a wave:

There’s no greater feeling than surfing and that feeling of being part of the ocean, really riding on top of the world. Surfing’s freedom, adventure and creativity rolled into one. It’s easy to see why surfers love surfing so much and I also love teaching newbies to surf so they can experience that joy. There’s only one place you can get that feeling and it’s in the surf.
-Annabel Candy

Much of what Annabel Candy was describing relates to living in the Holy Spirit.

1. In the Spirit, there is freedom!
When we live in the Holy Spirit, indeed adventure and creativity is rolled into one. The Spirit is always fresh, never boring, mysterious in His ways, and ever relevant. The Holy Spirit puts us at the edge of our seats, waiting in anticipation for His move. When the Spirit blows, we've got to catch His wave --and experience Freedom!  "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom! (Darrel Evans, Freedom)."  When things seem routinary, lifeless, and dry, let us examine our lives.  We might be imprisoned by our sinfulness. Sin leads us to the wrong ocean, where the Wind doesn't blow. Sin makes us content of paddling instead of riding the waves.

2. A life in the Spirit is a life shared.
Once we have recieved the Spirit in our lives, we have to share it. We have to teach others how to "surf and catch the wave."   The Holy Spirit was promised by the Lord, and given in Pentecost to strengthen the community and embolden them to spread the Gospel.

But you will receive power when the holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

Once they caught the tsunami wave of Holy Spirit during Pentecost, the gospel spread -- like never before. 

Acts 2: 38. Peter [said] to them, “Repent and be baptized,* every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit.

v.41Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.

I can only imagine if the Apostles did not proclaim the Gospel after recieving the Spirit. It would have been impossible, since the joy cannot be contained -- it was too much it had to oveflow to all of humanity.

3. The Wave will come. We cannot create it.

The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. John 3:8

Through prayer, we wait upon the Holy Spirit. Sometimes it comes almost immediately, at times it teaches us to be patient -- to wait for His Power. Those who cannot wait---those who don't pray---try to make their own waves, their own wind. But like anything that is fake, it always fall short of the authentic -- and it shows. When on mission, we have to ride with the wave of the Spirit. Go where it blows and when it blows.  As they say, In His time.

Let us ride on the Wave of the Spirit! It's the best way to live.

 

A Heart, Big as the World

In a retreat at St. Paul Center for Renewal in Cavite, I came upon the "Prayer to St. Paul". I was struck by the words, "Obtain for us the heart of an apostle, a heart, big as the world. 

Reflecting on this, I tried doing a "heart check-up". How big is my heart? Is my capacity to love enough only for my family and friends? How easily does my heart tire? Is my heart hosted with humility that I am able to accommodate criticism and correction? 

I am reminded of Saint Candida de Jesus (my high school alma mater's congregation founder). On favoring God over earthly lures, she said, "The world is too small for my desires". 

Indeed, when one discovers the joy of God and allows Him to enter the heart -- there is no other way but for the heart to grow bigger. 

A heart without God shrinks in size until it becomes compacted like stone. Nothing permeates through a stony heart. But the Lord cries out, "If today you hear My voice harden not your heart." It is the Lord who is the initiator of love. He knocks at the door of our hearts without tiring. Need we only open and welcome him and God will give us a new heart, big as the world!

"I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh (Ez 36:26)."

There are many out there who will discover the truth about God's love through the channel of our own hearts. 

Love not as yourself, but as the Lord using you as conductor of the currents of His powerful love. A big heart can take in and deliver large amounts of God's grace to His people. 

St. Paul, pray for us as we dare take on the world with our puny hearts in the hope that God will expand it by His grace and mercy. Amen.

Travel Light

One of my favorite travel accessories is the inflatable travel pillow. It helps me get a good shut-eye. It supports my neck in the awkward positions of seat-sleeping. I have been to many long trips that end up with a neck sore. So, this pillow is really a good investment on my part.

I recall a passage from Luke about instructions for the missionaries to be sent off. 

Luke 9:3  He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.

Now during those times, there was even no travel pillow to speak of! More shockingly, even the basic and logical travel necessities were not allowed on this mission. The missionaries had to depend on "living off the land" and trusting in God's providence through those who will welcome them. 

On this, I reflect 3 things:

1. Travel light, God provides

Life is a one big mission journey. When we carry a lot of baggages, we won't be able to fulfill what we were meant to do. Our tendency is to focus more on our attachments instead of God's supplements. When we are still attached to the baggages of anger, unforgiveness, materialism, fear, and many others -- we cannot move forward in life. 

The Lord provides, provided that we leave room for His blessings, leaving the unecessary weight of sin. The lighter we travel, the heavier the blessings.

2. Offer your discomforts to God

Along our life's journey, there will always be "bumpy roads" and "uncomfortable seats".  Instead of complaining, let us make an offering of sacrifice for the Lord. Our pains can be lifted us prayers for the salvation of souls in purgatory. 

3. Mission is total surrender

When all that you possess in this world is gone, yet you have God -- you are rich! Just like the man who finally found the pearl of great price and sold all he possessed to acquire it. In Luke, when the missionaries were sent off, they knew that they had everything -- God. If we embark on a mission and fail to "bring" God, then we have brought nothing. We surrender our lives to God, so that God can finally lead us to the awesome life that He prepared.

In our pilgrim life on earth, let us start to detach from worldly pleasures and attach ourselves to the heavenly delights of a life of mission.