It’s officially summer where I live and I for one am very excited about this! Cooking out on the grill (my husband is an excellent grill chef!), floating in the pool, walking our little dog, listening to the birds, enjoying conversation with my loved ones on the backyard porch, and wearing flip flops all make me feel warm and fuzzy inside! Summer is grand indeed. It seems that most of the people I know have an extra spring in their step, they wear a wider smile, and they seem to have an increased zest for life in the summer. The world just seems a bit brighter – figuratively and literally.
Seeing With Eyes of Light
As I read today’s readings I thought about how good it feels when we perceive the world as brighter and sunnier – like summer. Jesus tells us that our eye is the lamp of the body. If our eye is sound then we will be filled with light – that’s a promise of his. If our eye is bad, well, we will be in darkness. Note – Jesus didn’t say we would be filled with darkness – rather, our whole body would be in darkness. Athaliah in our first reading lived in such darkness. Christ lives inside of us so darkness cannot fill us up. When our “whole body” is in darkness we become disconnected from the source of life, our Triune God. This disconnect will lead to pain – for us and for others.
My first thought when reflecting on this verse was the importance of protecting our eyes from viewing sinful things. You know; movies, TV shows, reading materials, social media posts, and even certain physical places that promote sin. We do need to be prudent about the things we view. We also need to view things that feed our soul. I believe one of the greatest joys our soul will ever receive is experienced when our eyes rest on the Blessed Sacrament. Yes, this is all very, very important. However, does Jesus offer more here? I believe so.
Internal Woundedness
We all carry internal wounds that can make us less pleasing to the eyes of others. Sometimes our internal wounds cause others to want to flee from us and take cover! Let’s face it, we aren’t always lovable – sometimes we are downright difficult company. We can be grumpy, angry, mean, jealous, condescending, and envious – you name it. The list is long and extensive. We can be a real drag, draining the life from those around us.
What effect does our bad mojo have on someone who is within eye shot? I guess they have a decision to make. They can turn away and keep their eyes on blessed things and this can be helpful. You know, see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil. Or, they can turn towards us and respond out of their own wounded nature and add fuel to the fire. This doesn’t always end well… just look at Athaliah. Or, they could do their best to find Christ within us, offering love, forgiveness, and compassion. Jesus is within us after all, even when we are not so nice or lovable.
The Body’s Lamp
Perhaps this is a bit of what Jesus was talking about when he said our eye is the body’s lamp. When we learn to see the world through a bright lamp, no longer dimmed by our internal wounds and sin, we are onto something. It’s not that our internal wounds and sin will automatically disappear – they won’t until God says so. Rather, it is about recognizing that we all carry internal wounds, wounds that make it difficult for love to flow. Our wounds can darken our interior and limit the expansion of the Christ light within us. However, our wounds can also become instruments of light. In order for this to happen we must employ forgiveness, compassion, and mercy. The choice is up to us.
We need healing and this can only be done with God’s love. Love covers all faults and love heals all pain. As Christians we are called to love one another. We are also called to see Christ in one another. In order to facilitate the expansion of light into the world we must brighten our lamp – our eyes. This is accomplished when we allow ourselves to see Christ’s light in our fellow brothers and sisters, especially when their light is veiled with internal wounds and pain. I know this isn’t always easy. Sometimes we are all too quick to respond out of our own wounds, while other times we find it easier to turn our back on our brothers and sisters. We must employ forgiveness and mercy. Forgiveness of self, forgiveness of others, and we must accept God’s infinate forgiveness and mercy.
Healing our Eye – Our Lamp
In order to heal our eye and receive clear sight we need help. Our internal wounds are bigger than us and we cannot heal them on our own. Heck, I believe that most of our wounds didn’t even begin with us. They were passed down through the ancestors who came before. We need the help of someone who is bigger and wiser. We need someone who has already conquered all the pain and sin that exists in the world. Fortunately, this guy is close by – Jesus Christ. He lives within each and everyone of us. Jesus Christ is ready and waiting to guide our paths, all he needs is our yes.
One of my favorite prayers that helps me empty to Christ is the Suscipe by Saint Ignatius of Loyola. It helps me surrender more fully to God. I invite you into it: Suscipe.
Experiencing Zion
Why does our Lord choose Zion as his dwelling place? Because Zion is the perfection of beauty, filled with precious living jewels, shimmering in God’s bright rays. Jesus is her corner stone. Her citizens are poor in spirit because they have emptied themselves completely, they have died to self. God, in turn, has filled them to the full with his bright spirit. Their shimmer is exquisite and infinite. I believe Zion is in our midst and we are all invited to become her citizens.
We are invited to become a beautiful jewel reflecting God’s light in this magnificent city. We are all diamonds, rubies, emeralds, or sapphires in the rough. We are all lumps of raw material waiting to be refined by heat and pressure. Our refinement process happens here on earth. For a jewel to become brilliant it must undergo transformation, it must be put to the test. Our testing includes lesson after lesson on love. With each “hard to love” person we are given another opportunity to grow in love and forgiveness. Every time we pass a test of love we become a more brilliant and radiant gemstones, gemstones that receive and invitation to become citizens of Zion. The deep refinement process happens when we learn how to see Christ in those who are hard to love – even when that person is us.
Zion is perpetual summer. A place where God’s rays illuminate the walls and make its gardens brilliant and beautiful. Summer here in Carmel Indiana, and as much as I enjoy its beauty, is only a glimpse into the perpetual summer God has for those invited to become citizens of Zion.
Global Light For Christ (GLFC)
We are a community striving to become brilliant gemstones in Zion. If you are seeking to become healed of wounds that can only be healed through the love of Jesus please leave your petition below. We always strive to more fully surrender to the will of our Triune God and together we can make a difference in the world. Let’s pray that we all become citizens of Zion – loving one another and the Christ who dwells with in us all.
Spiritual Friendship Circle
Once a month my Spiritual Friendship Circle meets in my home to support each other on our spiritual journey. If you live in the area consider this your invitation. Click here for further information. However, I do recognize that many of you do not live near me – a vast understatement of course! Perhaps God is calling you to begin, or participate in, a Spiritual Friendship Circle? I think it is a great way to love ourselves and our neighbors all the while loving God.
God bless all of you. See you next week Friday – Carolyn
God the Father – hold us in your Fatherly love.
Sacred Heart of Jesus – heal us with your divine love.
God the Holy Spirit – immerse us in divine love.
