Resting in the Light

Good News ReflectionWednesday of the Second Week of AdventDecember 9, 2009
Today's Readings:Isaiah 40:25-31Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10Matt 11:28-30http://www.usccb.org/nab/120909.shtmlUSCCB Podcast of the Readings:http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_12_09.mp3
Resting in the Light
To live in the joy of Christ, we must remain in the light of Christ. And to be heralds of joy to the world, we have to share the light of Christ.
Basking in the light of Christ should be very restful. But it doesn't always seem so, right? Not when it's too bright! When Jesus reveals to us a sin that we've been committing, our first instinct is to slam our eyelids shut. Then we either run away and hide, or we wrestle and struggle and squirm in his arms.
It's hard to get away from the light of truth. Everyone tries, but no one succeeds forever. Oh, for awhile, we might mask the purity of the light of truth with colors of our own choosing, but when we really, sincerely want to become more like Christ, we let him transfigure our human nature into his divine glow. And when we truly trust him, we readily accept the changes.
The light of Christ is restful only when we let go of our determination to interpret the truth according to what's most convenient for us and what's easiest for us to believe. Sometimes we misunderstand the value of a truth – for example, a teaching of the Church that we don't like because it's inconvenient or because it doesn't make sense to us (the ban against artificial contraception is probably the most misunderstood) – and so we reject the teaching as if it's a dark spot on the Church's wall. But rejecting it does not give us the peace and joy we expected.
The light of Christ is restful and joyful only when we stop resisting what God is doing in the light. We need to relax and allow his light to consume us, trusting that we're safe in this transformation process because of God's goodness. Then, as described in today's Gospel reading, we're strengthened by yoking ourselves to Jesus. To be yoked to Jesus means teaming up with him to love as he loves, to plow what he plows, and to go where he goes.
Our burdens grow lighter as Jesus helps us pull the load. Our labors become causes for joy as he takes us in a different direction than where we were headed under the weight of anger and resistance and the illusion that life must be easy to be good.
When we relax in the light of Christ, we begin to understand how he's meek and humble of heart. To be meek means to be strong in the truth without forcing it upon anyone. Jesus is so strongly meek that he gladly pulls the weight of our heavy loads after we yoke ourselves to him.
In this life of being united to Jesus, he challenges us to work harder. He exercises us while patiently waiting for us to build up our strength so that we can go farther in the work of his kingdom.
Go stare at some Christmas lights that are pleasant and restful. Maybe you enjoy the soft glow of a candle or the gently waving patterns of a fiber-optics Christmas tree. Personally, I find joy in the colorful array of tiny lights on a house that work together to form a constellation that redefines old shapes while breaking the darkness. Prayer is like this, redefining old shapes and patterns in our lives, according to the light of truth, as we rest in the strength of Christ's love.
And this is how our joy increases.
© 2009 by Terry A. ModicaThis work is NOT in Public Domain, and should NOT be copied without permission. For PERMISSION and info on how to copy this reflection, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections/copyrights-DR.htm
Seeking a past reflection?Click this button to register for the searchable Archive Library of the Good News Reflections. One week access is free as a special gift to subscribers of these emailed reflections.
WAS THIS FORWARDED TO YOU BY A FRIEND?To sign up for your own subscription, go to:http://gogoodnews.net/DailyReflections
Why do I need you as a partner in my daily ministry?Please help with a donation, including non-financial support. Good News Ministries affects countless lives around the world, including in countries where people have no Catholic Mass and where Christianity is persecuted. continue... Join the cause on facebook and help spread the message!
Note: Good News Ministries is a non-profit organization that accepts donations as support for its ministries but does not charge for anything. Catholic Digital Resources™ is Terry Modica's publishing house providing professional writing services; the income from this will eventually support the future growth and projects of Good News Ministries. Please spread the word; tell your DRE, RCIA Director, pastor, etc. about what's available for parishes at Catholic Digital Resources™.
______________________________________________________________This is the "Good News Reflections - Early Edition" mailing list.MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTION:Change your addressUnsubscribe