Light of Faith

               I have spent several hours over the past few days reading the first encyclical by Pope Francis, Lumen Fidei (Light of Faith).  In this year of faith, my family and I are reading through the Year of Faith booklet published by Magnificant.  Hopefully, by November 24^th (the end of the Year of Faith) I’ll be able to have an intelligent discussion on faith for the balance of my life here on Earth!

               I mention this, because we have become very familiar with various aspects of faith while reading the book and I think that helped me to read Lumen Fidei. Someone said that this is a document written by “four hands” as a draft was written by Pope Benedict and then edited, revised, completed by Pope Francis.   In this post, I want to share just a few of the gems that I found in this document.   

               Those who believe, see; they see with a light that illumines their entire journey, for it comes from the risen Christ, the morning star which never sets.  Pope Francis concludes the first paragraph with this sentence.  The Biblical expression that first came to me is the exhortation to “not hide your light under a bushel basket”.   Faith is infused in me, and with Christ’s light, I are to follow His way.

               In paragraph 32, I find, Christian faith, inasmuch as it proclaims the truth of God’s total love and opens us to the power of that love, penetrates to the core of our human experience.  Each of us comes to the light because of love, and each of us is called to love in order to remain in the light.  I can almost feel a warmth in my chest as I think of how faith has penetrated to the core of my heart and soul.  Without God’s persistent invitation to accept His total love, I might still be lost in a haze of depression and materialistic greed.   As I have come to fully understand how precious I am to Him, I have been able to give my life fully to him.

               In paragraph 35 I find, Religious man strives to see signs of God in the daily experiences of life, in the cycle of the seasons, in the fruitfulness of the earth and in the movement of the cosmos.  How I have learned to find God in those daily life experiences, whether it is conversation during family dinner, the full moon on a summer night or the finding of a precious lost object.  Looking for those life experiences allows me to be ever more conscious of God’s love for humanity and for me.  Me, who he made before the world was made. (AMAZING!)

               Those who have opened their hearts to God’s love, heard his voice and received his light, cannot keep this gift to themselves.  I say, “AMEN” to this sentence that begins paragraph 37.  Thus the reason for this blog and the hours I spend learning about God and sharing it with other.

               Pope Francis ends the encyclical with a prayer to Mary.  Read the entire letter at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20130629_enciclica-lumen-fidei_en.html