Be a child of Light
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
“… for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light” (Eph 5:8). Who are the children of light? This terminology only appears in the Bible in three places. Let’s look at Ephesians, Chapter 5, where we find v. 9 and 10: “… for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true, and try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” There is more in Chapter 6, that deals with the relationship between children and parents.
A child of light is anyone who obeys the Lord. How does this apply to us today? Simply this: reject temptations, obey the Commandments of God, and those of the Church, and, strive to love God in all things.
“Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life, so that my boast for the day of Christ may be that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” Phil. 2:14-16.
Jesus wants us to approach Him with the innocence of children. Sure, we say, but children can be innocent and glad because they don't carry the burden of adulthood and the complexities of life on their shoulders... but you see, my friends, if we offer our trials to Jesus and place our burdens at the foot of the Cross, and surrender totally to Jesus, then the complexities of life will no longer be a wall that separates us from our loving Master. Have you ever noticed that things go smoothly as long as we do this, but the minute we begin to doubt God's wisdom and try to re-engineer the problem, then things go wrong? When we're asked to help a friend with a severe problem, always pray on it first. With discernment, listen to that inner voice that leads us along the way of the Lord, because if you don't, then our counseling would be ineffective and we would probably do more harm than good. But if we listen to the Word of the Lord, we are brought closer to Jesus through the realization that He loves us deeply, and he never says no to us when we come to Him in supplication. Prayer works... “If you ask anything of the Father in My Name it shall be given you...whatever you ask in My Name, I will do.” (John 16:23-24, 14:12-14).
Then you approach the Lord, with a simple petition "Jesus, please help me with this problem", or by asking a Prayer Team to pray with you for something, you've already taken that first step. You wouldn't ask Jesus' help if you didn't believe that He could help you. There is no problem so large and complex that Jesus cannot help. He always helps, maybe not in a quantity that is immediately evident, but He does help us. First He helps us to overcome our doubts about the problem. When we surrender to Him totally, every day, the problem will be resolved. “If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him he will deny us. If we are unfaithful he remains faithful for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:11-13). Jesus always remains faithful to us. You can always ask for His help and it will be lovingly provided.
What are imperfections? Well, that's difficult to answer in general because we are all unique in one way or another and most of us know where we're apt to go wrong. A short examination of conscience before retiring is usually a good time find out what needs correcting. As members of the Body of Christ, we are the Lord's temple and this temple must be cleansed of everything that offends the Lord, including mere imperfections which we are apt to overlook. When you work at this regularly through a daily spiritual renewal, the big problems will go away because we've surrendered to God the Father, through the redemption of His son on the Cross, with the fire of love that binds us together in the Holy Spirit.
When you feel God's grace at work as some of these imperfections lessen, and your prayer life increases in strength, then you have to be especially careful about temptation. Sometimes at times when you're in intense prayer or meditation, such temptations appear as if out of nowhere often in the manner of impure thoughts. St. John of the Cross indicates this is normal; we cannot prevent these thoughts from occurring because in feeling joy and peace, all our senses come into play, not just the spiritual sense. The important thing is that you must be on guard so as not to give into such thoughts. I often catch myself daydreaming, even during Holy Mass. St. John of the Cross also says that this time will pass and when the soul matures in this spiritual relationship with Jesus there will come a time that we will be purged from these temptations and imperfections.
My sisters and brothers, it is not wise to rush one's advancement in this spiritual relationship with Jesus. Jesus will set the pace, we merely obey. One of the biggest enemies of reverence is haste. Do take it one step at a time! As you reexamine yourself to see where you might improve, read the Word of the Lord frequently, speak to Jesus many times during the day because He is your friend and allow Him to take charge of you. Surrender your will to Him totally. We promise you: you'll never find cause to regret it!
God bless you all.
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
Nov. 10, 2023