Shedding a Little Light

“With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!’" Numbers 21: 4-5

“Do not forget the works of the Lord!” Psalm 78: 7

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

John 3:16-17

Are we not all just like the people in the first reading? Things go wrong, sometimes very wrong, we have a difficult day, and we grumble at God. We complain to our family and friends. We very quickly forget about the abundant blessings God has given us throughout our life and focus on the negative now. We forget that trials help to prepare us for heaven. We forget the works of God and live in frustration. That is a choice. It is our free will that lets us wallow or keeps us praising God. Read it again—that is a choice—our choice.

On this feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, we must choose to take our focus off the troubles and complaints in our lives and instead choose to focus on the love of God. This love gave us God’s only Son, willing to suffer and die on a cross, just so that we could have the gift of eternal life. Choose to lift your heart and voice in praise to God. Choose to bear any hardship with trust in God. Choose to remember God’s blessings. Choose to accept the love and sacrifice of Jesus. And choose every day to …

Keep Living in the Light

Bernie