"All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle" St. Francis of Assisi

That is why Jesus called us, his followers, to be the light of the world.  When we were baptized a lighted candle was given us to be kept burning until we reach our destiny. We by our life light the way for ourselves and others through the darkness of the world. If we remain in union with Jesus nothing, even the attacks of the evil of darkness, will be able to extinguish our light. As St. John reminds us, "He who is within us is greater than he who is outside." Walk confidently with your light held high.

 "Everything that is not for God is empty." St Francis Caraccolo

This is an interesting statement. Yet, how true it is! How much time and energy do we expend in things that are not of or for God? Compare these to the things we do for and in God. Then, see the two in the light of eternity. Which will have greater and lasting merit? What can we do? Even in the mundane things of life, do all for God. Here is a saying I have used often. "Do what you are suppose to do, when you are suppose to do it, the way you are to do it, to the best of your ability for the love of God." In this way, nothing will be empty or meritless.

 "Courage doesn't always roar, sometimes it's the quiet voice at the end of the day whispering 'I will try again tomorrow.'" St. Clotilda

Not only does that inner voice speak to us at the end of the day, but each time we fail, it urges us to try again. Without that grace from God, our life would be hopeless. It urges us never to give up in our spiritual journey to greater holiness. It motivates us not to focus on our failures, no matter how many, but to focus on the grace that God gives us to start afresh with him. This courage is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Pray for a fresh outpouring of this gift each day as we begin anew. For without it, left on our own, we are bound to remain in failure and defeat.

 "Do not be ashamed to confess the cross, for angels glorify in it." St. Charles Lawanga

What has been seen as a symbol of shame and condemnation has become, because of Christ, a symbol of victory and glory. A source of death has become a source of eternal life. The source of man's first sin in the Garden of Eden has become the tree of grace on Calvary. The cross is the bridge between earth and heaven. As Jesus embraced the cross in obedience to the will of God for our sake, so we are called by the Lord to take up our cross for his sake, also embracing the will of God. With St. Paul let us glory in the cross, as we journey to the Lord.

 "Without joy, faith becomes a rigorous and oppressive exercise, and risks ailing with sadness. Let us consider this word: ailing with sadness. A desert Father said that sadness is “a worm that burrows into the heart”, which corrodes life (cf. Evagrius Ponticus, The Eight Spirits of Evil, XI). Let us ask ourselves this: are we joyful Christians? Am I a joyful Christian or not? Do we spread joy or are we dull, sad people, with a funeral face? Remember that there is no holiness without joy!" Pope Francis

This admonition is in line with the words o St. Paul: "Rejoice in the Lord always...for the Lord is near," When we are witnesses of a life of joy, even in the midst of difficlties, we are proclaimg our faith in Jesus as the Lord of our life. People were drawn to Jesus because "the joy of the Lord was his strngth." If he was a prophet of doom, he would not have been so effective.  Too many Christians have a downcast spirit. What draws people to Christ is the spirit of Paul and Silas. Though beaten and imprisoned for preaching about Jesus, they began to sing and praise God. Be a child of the light through joy than a child of darkness though a sad countenance.

 "By examing the tongue of the patient, the physicians find out the diseases of the body, and philosophers the diseases of the mind." St. Justin, martyr

 More important are the diseases of the tongue that affect our relationship with God. What are some of these diseases? There is falsehood and lies, slander amd calamny that are part of gossip, words of anger and unkindness, curses and swearings, using the name of God, sexual inuendos, words of unforgiveness and revenge, words that divide. Jesus, the Divine Physician, has come to remove these spiritual diseases. He prescibes words of truth, love, justice and unity. We are called because of our baptism to turn away from destructive words to life-giving ones, so that our speech becomes pleasing to God.