The Light of Life

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” [John 8:12]. Truly, Jesus Christ our Savior provides all that we need to keep the light of life burning bright in our daily living.

However, distractions of the world easily cast shadows. They divert our attention and lead us away from our Lord, away from the light of life. Therefore: “Be sober and vigilant” [1 Peter 5:8].

The other day, I nearly pitched a spiritual hissy fit when those worldly distractions frustrated me. I came so close to falling into my old habits that separated me from the Lord and his love. Before I completely stumbled, I stopped and sat before the Holy Eucharist. One word came to my mind and heart: Patience!

Holy Trinity at Work

The light of life guided me to see that Jesus gave me the grace I needed. The help of patience depleted my doubts and frustrations at the moment I needed it. With patience, the fruit of the Holy Spirit, Jesus draws each of us closer to our Heavenly Father—the source of all loving goodness.

Patience also is an integral part of the virtue of fortitude. Keeping us calm—and motivating us out of love of God and in union with Christ—patience helps us to withstand life’s trials and tribulations. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, patience brings to saints the greatest degree of real joy; it is a pure means of gaining perfection in the face of sufferings and adversity.

For certain, I am a long way from any perfection. However, patience helps me keep the light of life burning within me. Following Christ, by way of the Holy Spirit, we are not alone in our day-to-day struggles. All of which we can offer up to God for the sake of redemption and salvation.

The Source

With our Lord’s light, we see our heavenly Father reaching out to us with his love. Do we reach out, or do we hold back? According to Pope Benedict XVI, one must practice thinking, feeling, and willing with God, so that love may grow, becoming the keynote of our life.

Consider Blessed Carlo Acutis. During his brief lifetime, he devoted himself to the Holy Eucharist and to sharing the love of God with the lives he touched. Just before he died at the age of 15, he said “I’m happy to die, because I’ve lived my life without wasting even a minute of it doing things that wouldn’t have pleased God.”

The light of life burned brightly through Blessed Carlo. Can we say the same about ourselves? Carlo knew from childhood what takes many of us a lifetime to learn—that to accept and share the love of God in our daily living is to partake in the divine nature. Therefore, Carlo’s first rule for becoming holy: “You must want it with all your heart.”

May each of us partake in this journey to holiness. For this purpose, the good Lord gives us the healing graces we need. By sharing these graces with one another through our daily living the light of life patiently burns within us and shines through us not only for our own salvation but also for the salvation of the lives we touch. Amen!