I Take off the MASK!

You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. – Matthew 5, WEB

Darkness can never be extinguished by complaining about it or by saying how terrible it is indeed! It can never be conquered if we fear it or if we give in to despair. There is only one thing necessary. In order to overcome the darkness, we need to give out LIGHT. Courageous light. Joyful Light. Loving Light.

Your light must be greater than the darkness around you. Your beauty must be far more alluring than the deceiving attractions that lure the world away from the True Light.

And as the world makes its way further and further into violence, continue to sow peace. As the world grows in pride, seek out humility. As men grow in hate, grow more and more in Love.

“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
-Prayer of Saint Francis

Why do you stand far off, LORD?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
-Psalm 13, WEBBE

There are times when all that we could hear is the silence of God. We want Him to tell us what to do. We need Him to answer the many questions we have. We desire to hear His voice of comfort, telling us we need not worry or fret. But all that we hear is His silence.

Why does He not speak? Why does He not tell us He is going to answer our prayer? Why does He seem so far away?

In times when we cannot hear, may we listen to faith, and may we hold on to hope.

God’s silence does not mean He does not love us. God’s silence does not mean He doesn’t care.

But His silence is love itself, wisdom itself. It is to work in us something that can only be accomplished without noise.

The sun rises each day without need of trumpet or sound, but it blesses the whole world as it makes the seeds grow and the flowers blossom, giving warmth and life to all.

It is not the one who thirsts for love that lacks love, but the one who cannot even look, who does not really care to be found. – Jocelyn Soriano

Broken hearts, hearts that grieve, hearts overcome with painful and unfulfilled longing. These may yet be nearer to love, these may yet possess it! They are not the ones who truly lose what’s precious. For even in their pain, love lingers. Is love not the true reason behind each tear? Is love not the reason for the wounds of the heart?

Let those who thirst for love know that love has found them even before they began to thirst for love. Love itself has carved out that space, which only love can fill.

I will get up now, and go about the city; in the streets and in the squares I will seek him whom my soul loves. – Song of Solomon 3:2, WEB

Afterwards, Jesus… said: I thirst. – John 19:28, DRA

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” – Matthew 27:46, WEB

Love is happiness, yet it is also sorrow. Love is fullness, yet it is also being empty. Love is light, yet it is also darkness.

For no one loves for good times only, but loves the more when bad times come. No one loves to receive only, but shows one’s love is true by giving one’s all.

The one who knows how to love has fully lived, and because one lives, one is prepared even to die. For love is an offering not only of what one has. It is a complete surrender of the self, reserving nothing, holding nothing back.

It is in being consumed to the very end that love proves its true power, a power that conquers all pain and all darkness, rising yet again for it can never truly die.

For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning… Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires: To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of love; And to bleed willingly and joyfully… And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips. – Kahlil Gibran