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5th Day in the Octave of Christmas
St. Luke’s Institute
December 29, 2014
DARKNESS IN OUR
WORLD +++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
It
is a sad fact that the violence we complain about in our world isn’t something
new; it’s existed since the time of Cain & Abel
Ø
Good
people, the bearers of light, have frequently met with hatred and violence
Ø
The
sword, the gun, or the evil tongue is never far from those servants of light
who are close to God
Ø
Though
many of us may lead relatively tranquil and unperturbed lives, violence or
upset is never lacking for those who bring the light of Christ to it
Ø
People
like Gandi or Martin Luther King, Jr. come to mind. What they were able to
accomplish w/ love!
JOHN REGARDING
DARKNESS ++++++++++++++++++
Ø The last section of 1 John lays out beautifully how this
violence or antipathy is overcome:
Ø “Whoever says he is in the
light, yet hates his neighbor, is still in the darkness
Ø Whoever loves his neighbor
remains in the light,
and there is nothing in him to cause a fall
Ø Whoever hates his neighbor is
in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because
the darkness has blinded his eyes”
OVERCOMING DARKNESS
++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø
Live
as God calls us to & we’ll B living in the light
Ø
Acid
test of whether you’re living in the light or not, is whether you love, hate,
or are indifferent toward another. A simple honest yes or no!
Ø
You
can’t hate or be unconcerned about another and be in the light
Ø
Think
of this light as an open heart toward that 1 person U find most difficult or challenging
to love
Ø
What
living in the light – i.e. having an open heart – does is create an atmosphere
where the age-old games of win/lose, control/be controlled, or right/wrong do
not play a part
Ø
Defensiveness
is minimized in neighbor & your heart allows compassion & understanding
2 flow
CONCLUSION
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø We are assured that, “The
darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining”
Ø
The
question that remains then is whether we’re part of the light or the darkness
Ø
You
get to choose today!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
