Friday, 12-29-17 Love and Light

The human heart desires a total immersion in God’s love and light. Since Antiquity humanity has been seeking love through varied paths. Along these paths lingering questions remain in the hearts of many – How can I find love? Can I “wish” love into existence? Can I sit in meditation and manifest an experience of love? Is there a “secret” I need to know before I can experience love? Well, today’s readings reveal to us the key we need to open the door to love – we must walk like Jesus walked.

Walking like Jesus can seem a bit intimidating. Who can truly walk like him? After all, Jesus Christ is God himself. Jesus was perfect and sinless, while the rest of us are… well – not perfect and sinless. We sin and we fall short of perfection every day (at least I do). Given this, can mankind ever experience full union with Christ? Can we ever experience real love? Can we ever truly walk like Jesus?

Love and Light

The human heart yearns for God and it will not rest until it rests in God. In order to experience God’s rest we must walk in his light. Today’s first reading shows us how to walk in his light – we must love like Jesus loved. However, before we can truly love like this we must be brutally honest with ourselves about our capacity to love. It’s easy to lie to ourselves here. After all, we tend to throw around the phrase “I love you” rather easily today. Being brutally honest about our capacity to love calls us to look at our brothers who have hurt us.

Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8: 12 (NABRE)

Good Catholics and Christians know we shouldn’t hate another human being. Rather, we are called to love our brothers – even (especially) the brothers who harm us. Jesus modeled perfect love throughout his earthly ministry. He continually saw humanity through his lens of love. Even when Jesus rebuked individuals it was out of love. Jesus walked around healing, loving, and pointing mankind towards the pathway into perfect love. The capstone of his love was revealed on the cross.

Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall. – 1 John 2: 9-10 (NABRE)

Forgiveness, Love and Light

On the cross Jesus revealed to us the power of forgiveness. Through forgiveness we create a space in our heart for love to grow. When we hold on to unforgiveness darkness enters into our heart. This is why Jesus told us to forgive seventy-seven times. We are called to forgive as long as it takes. Seventy-seventy doesn’t refer to an actual number, rather, it points to perfection. Sacred scripture frequently uses numbers as a means to reveal something deeper. Both seven and ten symbolize perfection or completeness. So when Jesus told us to forgive seventy-seven times he was telling us that we need to forgive until our hearts are healed and full of love towards our brother. And this brings me back to our original dilemma – who can do this?

Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. – Matthew 18: 21-22 (NABRE)

Inside of our hearts we feel all sorts of emotions. Sometimes it feels impossible to usher out negative emotions – let alone invite love in. And here is the key – it is impossible for us to usher out negative emotions on our own. We will fail every time – evidence of this is the state of the world. Everyone wants love and mankind spends a lot of energy seeking love. Yet the world still lacks in love.

It seems mankind tends to put the cart before the horse so to speak. We seek love before we seek the one who can truly reveal to us the path into love – Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ offers us a perpetual invitation into a love relationship with him. As our relationship with Christ deepens he will reveal to us how to walk in love and light. He will reveal this to all who seek him.  However, we must take the steps necessary to create a space for him in our lives.

Praying Like Simeon

In today’s gospel we read about Simeon’s devotion to God. Simeon spent significant time with God in prayer over the years and “the Holy Spirit was upon him” as a result. One might imagine that Simeon anticipated a great powerful savior when God promised he would see him before his death. However, this is not what Simenon saw. Rather, Simeon saw the truth. While Simeon saw the light that is Jesus Christ, he also the pain, heartache, and division that would come with the new king’s salvation. Simeon also saw the sword that will pierce the heart of Mary.

The closer we come to our Triune God, the more clearly we see the truth of Christ’ sufferings. Simeon saw the wounds surrounding Jesus and we will too as we move closer to him. Some of those wounds are within our hearts. Others are within the hearts of the brothers who harm us – those we are called to love

Walking Like Jesus

And here is the key I saw in today’s reading. In order to experience real love we must move closer to Jesus Christ and this can only be done with his aid. We can only walk like Jesus with his help. We move closer to Jesus by forgiving and loving all of our brothers. Jesus knows this is hard for us, he knows our struggles and he will show us how to forgive and love all others. When we love others our eyes open to the wounds they carry. Their wounds, and our wounds, are the wounds of Christ. We are all a part of his body and when we follow Jesus’ lead of love and forgiveness we too become whole and healed – full of love and light.

Let’s start today by forgiving and loving those who harm us. Jesus revealed to us how to do this. We must pray for them. On my blog I have a post titled “What Forgiveness is (and what it is not)” If you struggle with forgiveness and you are seeking to grow in forgiveness I invite you to read this post: What Forgiveness Is (and what it is not).

Christmas blessings to all – see you next Friday! – Carolyn


Prayer Intentions

I believe prayer is the most powerful tool we can use to unite our hearts with the heart of God because prayer is communication with God. Like all relationships, communication stands at the foundation of the relationship. When we pray together as a community I believe our prayers become even more powerful. In light of this, if you have specific prayer intentions I would be honored to pray for you during my time at daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration this upcoming week. Please either email me privately, or post your prayer intention here in the comments section so our Catholic Moment community can join in your petition.


Sacred Heart of Jesus – have mercy on us.

Father God – consume us.

Holy Spirit – enter into us.

Blessed Virgin Mary – pray for us.


Today’s Readings: 1 John 2:3-11; Responsorial Psalm 96:1-2A, 2B-3, 5B-6; Alleluia Luke 2:32, Gospel Luke 2:22-35

About the Author

Carolyn Berghuis MS, ND, CTN is a best-selling author, inspirational speaker, traditional naturopath, and free-lance Catholic writer. Carolyn is currently pursuing an MA in Pastoral Theology at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology. Carolyn also holds a BS in Mathematics, a MS in Holistic Nutrition and a doctoral degree in Naturopathy. www.CarolynBerghuis.com

Author Archive Page

22 Comments

  1. Please pray for Nina Fatima Jalando-on to turn her back from lesbianism and more particularly to break her girl to girl
    relationship with Catherine Joy Dimaano. I believe my daughter is under deception about her lifestyle.

    Also, let us pray for her to return back to the faith that she once has when she was a little girl. My husband and I keep on praying for her transformation and very hopeful that she will renounce the LGBT community. Thank you so much.

  2. Thanks Carolyn for your wonderful reflection and may the Lord help you to continue with your evangelization of the word of God in the coming year 2018. Thank you too for your great teachings and friendship that have made us into a Small Christian Community.

    God bless you and your family – Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year to you and family

  3. I’ve consacreted myself and my family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Pray for my family to Come back home as some have gone astray. Pray for me to have an unshakeable faith, especially when times are tough, when experiencing failures and disappointments.

  4. thank you for your wonderful reflection it soul lifting, please pray for me and my family( Egwu Nkama) for God to put us into his plan this year and for our life in general, pray for the fruit of the womb for my sis-inlaw nnennaand my brother joeseph, and me, good health for my mum, financial break through, God’s mercy and forgiveness of our sins. Amen.

  5. “Good Catholics and Christians know we shouldn’t hate another human being.”

    Catholics are Christians, my dear 🙂

  6. Please pray that the hearts of the mothers of my grandchildren soften and they allow me to see and be a part of my grandchildrens’ lives. Oh how I miss them!

  7. Please pray for my two children to feel God’s love and believe. One just had a baby…he and his wife are great parents but lack a true conviction in their belief. The other son turns 30 today has Aspergers and is agnostic or atheistic.

  8. Please pray for me. I want to have peace with the everyday decisions I am making with regard to balancing my life at work and outside (I tend to sacrifice this a lot, I’m still young, 23, but I dont want this kind of life). Pray for me that I learn more about loving myself as my neighbors (especially when I’m with my colleagues and bosses in work) and for courage to be firm with what I really want in life.

  9. Please pray for my sister Mary who is having issues with her breast. For my dad who had lung transplant, for all priest who are sick(father Dalton, Merney, Karbala ) for by nephew who has stop going to church and is being rebellious against our believes, for all children who have depression, for all children who have addictions, for all who feel alone, for those who don’t have jobs. For our inner peace

  10. Thank you Carolyn for your inspiring reflection. Please add my son, Phillip to your prayers that his heart will be open to welcome the Holy Spirit and his faith in Jesus will be restored and renewed to come back to the church.

  11. Thank you for your offer to pray for your readers, Carolyn. Please pray for my son and other young men I know who have lost their faith and are unhappy and adrift in the world.

  12. I pray for all the intentions mention above, and I pray that my family & friends walk in the light of God’s love and peace. I pray for the heart of my future husband, may he open his heart and mind to the many blessings God has bestowed upon him and for the day God has united our hearts. May we walk in the light of hope, faith and love. Amen

  13. Please pray for my mother and my mother in law. Both are suffering with differing health issues at this time. It so hard to see them struggling. I am so grateful for the Catholic Moment faith community! It is the way I start each day. Thank you for what you do!!
    Blessings in the new year!

  14. As I lift all the above intentions in prayer, please pray that I hear the voice of God and follow His directions, that all doubt and disbelief are driven out and that there is peace in our hearts.

  15. Please pray for my husband who is a non believer. That the Holy Spirit touches his heart and for him to come into our faith. He is so lost right now in life- it is harming our marriage and our family. It’s difficult to be around.

  16. Thank you, Carolyn, to offer to pray for our intentions. Please pray for my handicapped husband, my mentally ill daughter, my “spiritual” but not religious daughter, my son who rarely attends church, my agnostic granddaughter, and all of my family and friends who do not know, love and serve God. Also pray for me that I will become the person God wants me to be. Thank you so much! Wishing you a Happy New Year!

  17. I have really enjoyed reading all the reflections from all the writters on this website but especially yours Carolyn. I have also read your book wich is really amazing. I want to ask you to pray for my Mother-in-Law, Rita Luna, who has been living with ALS, which is a terrible disease. I always pray that if its our Lords will she may be healed. I also ask for your prayer for me and my family that we may get out of our financial struggles. Thank you again and I ask that God keeps blessing all of you writers and readers. That yaw may give us many more beutiful reflections this coming year.

  18. Thank you Carolyn for your message of love and forgiveness. Please pray for me to move closer to experience love and learn to walk more like Jesus. I have went through many losses and struggle to forget the past. I pray daily to be relieved of this fear that I project into future relationships which have ended in disappointment.

  19. I read few prayer points above and I realized I had little or no problem.

    God; you know it all, better than we do.
    Do it your way. Amen.

    Thanks for the word Ma.

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