A Pilgrim's Journey: Reflecting Christ

Sunday, January 5, 2025

Reflecting Christ

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you,” Isaiah wrote thousands of years ago, and so the prophet foretold the dawn of God's light on each one of us as we come to a fuller knowledge His Son.

By the rising of Jesus Christ upon us, we are able to rise from weakness and to shine with the reflected glory of God. When we do right in the Name of Christ, we shine with His light, and we know that the darkness has no claim on us at all. We know that His light will take away even the shadows in our lives, so that we can call God not only our Creator, but also our Father. More even than this – because we belong to the Light of the World – every single day of our lives is a new opportunity to grow in His light, so that we can become more and more like Him.

Our lives are given to reflect God's glory, and this is the noblest and most blessed purpose of all. We are, in a mystical way, to be an “epiphany” of Christ, so that the whole world can see His glory in our lives.

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Painting: "Adoration of the Magi"

By Charles Bosseron Chambers (1880-1964)

Meeting Pope St. John Paul II

In 1983 I was a newly-ordained priest. In November of that year, it was my privilege to be in Rome to take part in developing The Book of Divine Worship. During that time an invitation was extended to celebrate Mass with His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, in his private chapel. After we had said Mass, and in those few moments I had with the Holy Father, he told me that he remembered considering the request for my ordination, and he described how he came to an affirmative decision. For me, our brief conversation was an experience which will be treasured forever. At the conclusion of our time together, I asked him if I could take his blessing back to the people of my parish. His very simple words remain precious to me: "With all my heart, I bless you and your people." He then embraced me, and I knew that I was forever "home in my Father's house."