Reflection: I am the Light of the world...

In the Gospel of John, Jesus passed by and saw a man who was blind since birth.

"While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world. He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, 'Go wash in the Pool of Siloam' which means Sent. So he went and washed and came back able to see." John 9:5-7

This morning, my husband and I attended the Children's Mass and witnessed something beautiful. The Second Reading was being read by one of the children, a young boy who looked like he might be ten years old.  The boy stood up to the microphone, looked at the Reading and said, "A Reading from the Letter of Saint Paul." He looked up at the people in the church, dropped his head and froze. The adult lector stood by trying to encourage him, but he was frozen in fear. Out of the crowd, came the little boy's father. He stood next to his son, put his arm around him and the father read the Reading. After the Reading, the father scooped up the little boy in his arms and returned to their seats.

After the Gospel, the priest, our pastor, gathered the children in front of the altar for the homily. He told the children that priests and deacons give homilies and preach God's Word. He said that Saint Francis said, "Preach always. If necessary, use words."

Then the priest asked the children how they can pray without using words. He said they can pray with their actions. He went on to say that we saw God's action at the Second Reading today. He said when we are faced with a challenge, God always sends someone to help us. God will never leave us alone.

The priest said that during the Stations of the Cross, God sent people to help Jesus. God sent Mary, His Mother to comfort Him, He sent Simon of Cyrene to help Him carry the Cross and He sent Veronica to wipe His face with a cloth. They came out of the crowd to comfort and strengthen Jesus. God took action.  He said, today we saw God's action during the Second Reading, in the midst of the challenge, God came forward from the crowd, placed his arm around the little boy and took the necessary action. God the Father ACTS. He comes to us every time we face a challenge, just like the little boy's father came to him.

In the Second Reading today, we hear these words of Saint Paul:

"Brothers and sisters, you were once in darkness but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth." Ephesians 5:8-9

Today ponder how you can be light to others. Ask God to send you out of the crowd to help someone in need. Ask Jesus to open your eyes, as He did for the blind man, that you may see.

"I am the Light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows Me will have the light of life. John 8:12