26. December 21

Meditations no. 26 (unofficial computer-aided translation)

Christ brings supernatural life and light into the world.

O rising dawn, radiance of the light eternal and sun of justice. Lord, you are coming like a rising sun bringing light and warmth to our life. When you come, it will be said: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.

As radiance of the light eternal, Christ brings the splendour of truth to the world, and the clarity of supernatural light to our minds. As the sun of justice, he burns with that fire which - as he told his disciples - he longs to spread through the entire world. With the coming of the light and warmth of Christ, we are told by the prophet Isaiah that men shall feed along the ways, on all bare heights shall be their pasture; they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall smite them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them.

Let us prepare our souls to receive these divine gifts eagerly. Then anything that has faded will bloom again. A current of supernatural life, a new sap and a new vitality, will restore youthful joy to our hearts. For Christ said: I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

I assure you, my children, that we will make a great contribution to enlightening the life and work of mankind, through the divine radiance which God has deposited in our souls. But don’t forget: He who says he abides in Jesus ought to walk in the same way in which he walked, a way that always leads to victory, but that just as surely passes through sacrifice.

Christ’s light gives us a supernatural outlook.

The supernatural life which Christ brings is a participation in his own life: a sharing in his knowledge and love. St Peter tells us that he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may … become partakers of the divine nature.

Christ brings to our minds the superabundance of faith, a supernatural light, which is a sharing in the light of God’s own understanding. Faith gives us a truer and more positive view of things. In the radiance of faith, everything takes on a different hue, a meaning totally unsuspected by those accustomed to seeing things from only a human standpoint.

Christ’s light enables us to see things and events supernaturally. How different our life then appears! Unexpected occurrences and changes of plan no longer upset us. Whatever happens is seen in its true dimension and meaning. We discover the reality of the omnia in bonum, the truth that all things work out well for us. Our outlook becomes more positive; we are no longer tempted to pessimism, since we now discover God’s hand in everyone and everything.

My children, see God behind every event and circumstance. Then, from everything that happens, you will draw more love for God, and greater desires to respond to his grace. He is always waiting for us, and he gives us the chance to renew our serviam continually.

The serenity that marks our life stems from our supernatural outlook. Those around us notice our peace, and they try to find the reason for it, to discover where it comes from. God wants us to be calm at all times, because in this way we can lead souls gently but effectively to him.

Supernatural outlook in our charity towards others.

Christ’s supernatural light, which instils peace and calm into our hearts, also brings us a superabundance of love: a warmth, a fire, that enkindles our hearts and enables us to love God and other people for his sake. Thanks to our Redeemer, God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Each of us must strive to be light and fire. Our love must be a flame that sets fire to everything it touches, raising the spiritual temperature of our surroundings. No one should be able to say of us: Your charity is ostentatious. From afar, you attract; you have light. From nearby you repel; you lack warmth. What a pity!

To avoid this, we need to struggle to practise charity, and truly love our friends. For a Christian, a child of God, friendship and charity are one and the same thing: they are a divine light giving warmth. I recall seeing as a child an amusing drawing that I would like to show to many people, to many Catholics - including a good number who say they are consecrated to God.

There were two drawings. Under one was written “The Presumptuous Man”. It showed a family gathered round a table. Above them was a large lamp mounted on top of a long pole. From afar, that light attracted, it called people’s attention. But if you came near, you saw that the family was cold, without the light and warmth of a home. The other sketch was called “The Prudent Man”. Here was another family, with the light very close to them; it was on the table, in the middle of them all. It didn’t attract attention; it wasn’t ostentatious. But anyone who drew near to it found a family atmosphere there.

To act in this way, with charity and affection, without giving importance to ourselves, is not always easy. At the end of a day’s work, or when we have an important problem on our mind, it may be difficult to stop and exchange a friendly word, or pay attention to a person who comes and asks us something. It is especially for these occasions that we ask God for the gift of charity, for that warm love which Christ brings to earth with the light of his truth. There is nothing cold about the light of our Lord. Doctrine without charity is not God’s light.

We ask our Lady, Stella Matutina, the Morning Star - who announces the arrival of Christ, the Sun of Justice - to help us grow in supernatural outlook and love.