Luke 8: 19-21 (Tuesday, September 25, 2007)

The primary requirement for becoming a member of Jesus' family is hearing the word of God and acting on it. The Word of God is manifested in the person of Jesus. Striving to be like him is important in order to become members of the family of Jesus. All through the New Testament, we see a new election theology in which not only the people of Israel are called to become members of God's family but everyone who adheres to the Word of God, Jesus Christ. St. Paul does a beautiful job when he reconciles the election theology of the New Testament with that of the Old Testament. He says that Jesus Christ is the singular descendant of Abraham and all Christians are rightful descendants of Abraham by what God has done in Jesus. The waters of baptism are very strong and they make us rightfully members of the family of Jesus. Baptism is not a ceremony that we celebrate in order not to go to hell should we die, it is rather, an election into the everlasting bond of the family of Jesus. This calling is so special that Christians should have nothing more important for them than working to remain in this relationship with Jesus. The key to remaining in this relationship with Jesus is hearing the word of God and acting upon it.

Prayer:
Jesus, thank you from liberating us from our life of bondage and making us your sons and daughters. Help us to always remain in this relationship of love with you and the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Luke 8: 16-18 (Monday, September 24, 2007)

One of the Catholic symbols of baptism is light. Parents and godparents are invited to receive the light of Christ - the light is entrusted to them to keep it burning, so that when the Lord comes, he will find them watching. The Christian life should be like a light that shines through all the world. Light is one of the symbols that Jesus Christ uses to identify himself. He says, "I am the light of the world." We all have been entrusted with this light of Christ, the question is, are we burning brightly? Sometimes we are ashamed of our faith; we feel timid talking about Jesus; we deny Jesus in the presence of non-Christians. My interest today is not how much we have failed to be the light of Christ, but how we can become the light of Christ? The past has happened and gone and there is not much we can do to change that than to seek the forgiveness of God for our failures. Christ is giving us one more opportunity today to rekindle our lights. The best way towards becoming Christ's light is by the way you live your life. Your life must radiate the Christian virtues of faith, hope, love and charity. When you live radically these values, people will come to know and believe in Jesus. As you strive to do these things, more graces will be given to you by Jesus to enable you become even the more successful in your Christian life.

Prayer:
Lord, you have called us to be your light shinning through all the world. Please help us to rekindle the light of your faith, hope, love and charity in us, that we may shine brightly your life to those we meet.