Happy Christmas and a Blessed New Year
to all Lumiere Charity readers.
May blessings be with you and your loved ones
at this time of peace, joy and goodwill.
We pray for an end to war.
We thank Almighty God for His Graces
and Blessings over the past year.
A candle has been lit by Lumiere in
remembrance of all who are suffering
or have lost their lives due to war.
Our thoughts are with their families,
colleagues and friends.
Fasting is essential part of spiritual life
Fasting is an essential part of spiritual life. This form of renunciation can be carried out in the spirit of penance, as request, as meditation, as repentance, as appeal to God. In spiritual history, many have fasted in preparation for revelation. Jesus fasted forty days and forty nights as He sought clarification on His role as Messiah, and confronted satanic rule. Following the example of our Divine Lord, we celebrate forty days of fasting and repentance annually.
Lent - time of purification, penance and re-orientation
This Church season is called Lent, and is a time of purification, penance, and re-orientation of our lives towards God. Our fasting is a plea before God to liberate us from personal sin, and to liberate our nations from the vexations of the results of manifold sin and their encroaching power to distress. Fasting and prayer are spiritual methods to confront structural evil.
Structural evil
Structural evil is that which enters large, unwieldy organizations in which many good people - rendered powerless through custom and rules - may find themselves faced with the decision to bow their morals before the throne of mass production and ever-increasing profit values, at the cost of personal values and allegiance to the Laws of God - or lose the very income they and their families depend upon.
Jesus gave guidance that public mourning designed to attract attention and public acclaim is not to be sought. Rather, fasting should be done silently, in secret before God the father. This kind of fasting will be rewarded. And the reward? God often grants the penitent request. The repentant heart finds peace. Relationships are restored. The breach in peace is healed, and love rules in the heart and life of the penitent once more. Courage is given to the fasting person not to bow morals in pursuit of daily necessities, but to find godly alternatives. In short, God rewards with His Providence and Love.
Inward renewal
The time of fasting, in close relationship to God, makes all things inwardly new. The act of fasting makes us appreciate the gifts of life even more. Fasting renews the inner being.
Fasting is to be done with discretion and as a spiritual aid alone. Fasting to the point of anorexia is not advocated by spiritual teaching. Here again - as in all things - moderation and common sense is the key. Those suffering with diabetes are not encouraged to fast from food, as this is detrimental for their health. For those whose health situation, youth or senior age do not allow fasting, there is fasting of another kind: fasting (abstinence) from an unkind word, malicious gossip or inappropriate thought. Ask God for guidance and He will lead you in the right path for your personal spiritual renewal.
Jesus taught during the Sermon on the Mount, "When you fast, do not look sombre like the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, Who is unseen; and your Father, Who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." [1]
[1] Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 6, verses 16 to 18
With thanks to the Bible
Prayer is relationship
Jesus insists that prayer is a personal and intimate relationship between God and the person praying. It is not a vehicle for impressing others. Whether in public or private prayer, one should have no thought in mind and no desire in heart but God.
The Lord's Prayer
Jesus taught the Lord's Prayer as a prayer for disciples. This prayer deals with God and His supremacy, gives Him rightful glory and worship. Then the person praying asks for assistance with needs for the maintenance of life. Forgiveness for past faults and failings is humbly supplicated. We ask God for protection and assistance in our battle on earth with the evil one, satan and his demonic cohorts. We thus invite God into every part of life, every nook and cranny. The 'Our Father' leads us to full communion in heart, spirit and mind with the beloved God Who created us.
Spirit of forgiveness
Jesus teaches literally that we ask God to forgive our sins in proportion as we forgive those who have sinned against us. If we harden our hearts to others, we need to beware; we are asking for the same judgement ourselves. The perfection of forgiveness is to forget the wrong which was done, and to forebear to brood on past hurts. A spirit of grudge-holding is not noble in the Eyes of the Lord.
Jesus is living Presence with us
In living the teachings of the 'Our Father' prayer, it is important to remember that Jesus is a living Presence with us. He is companion, our strength, our joy. We need to live each moment aware of how Jesus would view our thoughts, our actions. We need to live out our lives with the nobility and love taught to us in the Lord's Prayer.
Jesus taught the following during His Sermon on the Mount: "This, then, is how you should pray:
'Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one'." [1]
[1] Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 6, verses 9 - 14
With thanks to the Bible
Jesus promises reward
The point of view that Jesus holds is that actions deserve a reward. He promises that the reward will be great in heaven for those who loyally bear persecution, and suffer insult without bitterness. [1]
Almsgiving to be done discreetly
Jesus warns us that if we make an outward show of piety for personal satisfaction from the praise of others, there will be no reward from God. Almsgiving is important, but needs to be done discreetly, with sensitivity for the feelings of the recipient. Do not give charity in a cold, unfeeling or humiliating way. Give charity with charm, discretion and courtesy, the alms coming from the good offices of God above, through you.
Do not let your left hand know what your right is doing
Jesus taught during His Sermon on the Mount, "Be careful not to practise your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, Who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." [2]
[1] Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 5, verse 12
[2] Matthew 6: 1-4
With thanks to the Bible
Choose not to become bitter
Jesus tells us to love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us. It is important to note that Jesus did not ask us to love our enemies with the same warm affection we feel for those very dear to us. Rather than the love of the heart it is the love of the will; we choose not to become bitter. We avoid falling into the pitfall of dislike and hatred.
We forgive the unforgivable by choosing not to seek retaliation. This meekness does not denote weakness, rather strength. By choosing to forgive, we are freed from a lifetime's pursuit of revenge.
Do not seek revenge
This does not mean that we allow individuals to do what they like, unchecked. True love means that healthy boundaries must be set in place in family, community and society. However, we do not seek revenge. Punishment, too, should be remedial; aimed at cure, not vengeance. [1]
Love your enemies and pray for persecutors
Jesus taught during His Sermon on the Mount, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes the sun to rise on the evil and and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." [2]
Created to be like God
In the beginning, humankind was created to be like God (3). The characteristics of God include universal benevolence, unconquerable goodwill, the ongoing search for the highest good of everyone. We are called to replicate in our life the unwearied, forgiving, sacrificial benevolence of God. So, the one who cares for others become perfect.
We realize the nobility of our humanity by becoming godlike. The love which never ceases to care for others, no matter what others may do to it, makes us like God.
Learn to forgive and love - be perfect
We realize our humanity, become perfect, when we learn to forgive, to love as God loves. This is the great Commandment of Jesus Christ, given on the mountain; "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (4)
[1] Barclay, William. The Daily Study Bible. Gospel of Matthew, Vol 1; CH 1 - 10. Revised Edition. 1981. St Andrew Press: Scotland. Page 175
[2] Gospel of St Matthew, Chapter 5, verses 43 to 48
[3] Genesis 1:26-27
[4] Matthew 5:48
With thanks to William Barclay and the Bible
Irish psychological health professionals have spoken and they do not want the Government to legalise euthanasia, assisted suicide, or "assisted dying"; Alleged News. [1] Please SIGN and SHARE this urgent petition saying NO to any efforts to legalise euthanasia, assisted suicide, or "assisted dying" in Ireland. This petition will go to the leaders of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, encouraging the Government to increase palliative care resources for treating the physically unwell and to increase psychological health resources for those suffering with psychological health issues; Alleged News. [1] This petition will also be delivered to members of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying which is due to make recommendations to the Dáil in the new year; Alleged News. [1] The goal is that the Committee's recommendations will accurately reflect the testimony given to them by Ireland's leading psychological healthcare experts, who said "No" to euthanasia and assisted dying; Alleged News. Expert testimony given by Irish medical professionals who rejected euthanasia, assisted suicide and assisted dying; Alleged News
[1] Irish Gov't: Listen to Irish Medical Professionals and Reject "Assisted Dying" Bill now! Alleged News FOR MORE INFORMATION: EUTHENASIA AND PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE - PART ONE https://lumierecharity.blogspot.com/2016/05/euthenasia-and-physician-assisted.html EUTHENASIA AND PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE - PART TWO https://lumierecharity.blogspot.com/2016/05/euthenasia-slippery-slope-part-two.html God is rather good at caring for sick people https://lumierecharitycoffeebreak.blogspot.com/2013/12/god-is-rather-good-at-caring-for-sick.html With thanks to Citizen.go Image with thanks to free clipart library |
Mother Mary knew the human cost of the gift of Christ's Life to the world
There is so much suffering and injustice in the world. In juxtaposition with this inescapable fact, there is also much joy, healing and bringing of justice to earth. Men and women have pivotal roles to play in bringing tenets of the gospel of peace to a suffering world.
Reject the ways of war
What can you and I do to bring peace and justice to situations where there is conflict and injustice? Reverend Vanessa Wyse Jackson preached that "We need to reject the ways of war, and work together for justice and peace." [1]
Women know the price to be paid
Women know the price to be paid for the building of a human life. Countless women have grown babies within their bodies, struggled with morning sickness, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, perineal tears, post-partum psychosis in order to deliver the gift of a baby to the world.
Olive Shreiner and the knowledge of woman
Olive Shreiner posited that "No woman who is a woman says of a human body, 'it is nothing'... on this one point, and on this point alone, the knowledge of woman, simply as woman, is superior to that of man; she knows the history of human flesh; she knows its cost; he does not." [2]
Labor which brings forth a child
The labor which brings forth a child makes of a woman a realist. She knows what her child cost. Every woman who becomes pregnant faces the realization that she might not come out of her pregnancy alive, and she faces this reality with concern only for her child. Is this not true courage indeed?
A woman knows the history of human flesh
On the website of artist Dina Cormick appears a haunting portrayal of Shreiner's quote, "A woman knows the history of human flesh, she knows its cost." In the depiction, a woman holds a child up towards heaven, her face would appear to be ravaged in grief. From the time I saw this artwork during the time of loss and death during Covid pandemic, I pondered its meaning. Reflection from personal inspiration I received from this image on Dina Cormick's art website has resulted in this article. [3]
The image suggested to me that a mother is holding her child up to God, the little one appears to be no more. The apparently bereaved mother is crying to Heaven for the little one, who was born of her love for another and from the sacrifices and pain of her own body. Now the little one is lost to earth, but not to Heaven. What happened? What tragedy occurred? I do not know. I do know, that this art work inspires me yet again to realize the inestimable value each precious life has in the Sight of Almighty God.
Blessed are the peacemakers
Horrendous images and accounts of the true horrors of war have been available. Unimaginable pain, suffering and death in many countries trouble our earth. Men and women have mandate from Jesus Christ to be peacemakers and prevent this bloodshed, "Blessed are the peacemakers; for they will be called children of God," Jesus Christ tells us. [4] This seventh beatitude takes every Christian worker into the task of conflict resolution. Conflicts arise whenever people have differences of opinion.
Let us manage conflict. But let us do what we can to prevent the horrors of war.
Mothers are less inclined to send their children into battlefields
In the context of war, Diplomat Dawie Jacobs considers that 'The burden always falls on the shoulders of the next generations. They are paying for "the sins of the fathers." ' [5]
Diplomat Jacobs goes on to write that "The only dim light ahead is that the new generation is, broadly speaking, less indoctrinated and blindfolded and that more women are slowly moving into positions of power.
As mothers they are less inclined to send their children into battlefields and generally are not as driven by a lust for power.
They rank brainpower higher than muscle power and generally put a high premium on the kind of world they leave behind for their children.
We need a new generation of leaders. Leaders that see consideration for others not as a weakness, but as a strength. Leaders that care about the kind of world they want to leave behind for future generations." [5]
Let us work for peace
Let us pray for end to war. Let us work for peace. And may women, who grow infants within their bodies and labor to bring new life into the world, continue to be life-bearers and witnesses to the utter sanctity of each human life.
As Mother Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour did.
[1] Rev. Vanessa Wyse Jackson B.A., H.dip.Ed. Public sermon July 2016. Dublin, Ireland
[2] Olive Shreiner. Woman and Labor. 1911. Olive Shreiner Quote
https://libquotes.com/olive-schreiner/quote/lbb2m8a
[3] Dina Cormick. About the artist
https://www.creativewomanartist.com/about-the-artist/
[4] Matthew 5:9
[5] Jacobs, Dawie (Diplomat). Pretoria. "Sadly, history keeps repeating itself in senseless wars". Sowetan. Letters, Tuesday November 21 2023.
With thanks to Rev Vanessa Wyse Jackson public sermon, libquotes.com, creativewomanartist.com and sowetanlive.co.za
