Present Light

The texts today from the Roman CatholicLectionary bring us in touch with the times in our lives when we experienced a certainty, a peace or an awareness of the Presence of God. Friar Jude Winkler comments that this gift is a moment of courage and encouragement. We may be overwhelmed in such a moment by thanksgiving. The passage from the Book of Genesis today takes us through the long tradition of being in the faith family of Abraham who heard the call of God to move and change and let the Will of God be the guide for his actions. This touchstone of faith is celebrated in the teaching of Paul about the centrality of trusting God beyond what our senses may tell us in being people who live well with and because of transcendence. The Gospel from Matthew relates the action of Jesus to reveal His Nature as the Light of God and the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets to the disciples identified by Friar Jude as the great apostles. Maureen McCann Waldron of CreightonUniversity reflects on the gift of the transcendent mountain top experiences as so important to Christians as we take on with courage the role of being Christ in the world. The pastoral advice in the second letter to Timothy today inviting us to share in the suffering for the Gospel through times of darkness and confusion with the sure faith that God is present in Jesus laying hands on us through those with whom we journey up the mountains and down again to the new lands which He shows us. We hear the psalmist reassuring praise Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. (Psalm 33:22).