MAKING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST SHINE THROUGH US

SAINT PIUS OF PIETRELCINA (Padre Pio)

Prov 3:27-34; Ps 15:2-5; Lk 8:16-18

Making our light shine before Men

The readings continue the contrast between the just and the godless, which we commenced with the Sunday readings. We commented yesterday that the life of a right-thinking man is already in accord with heavenly wisdom. We based our position on the understanding that nature is the ordinance of the divine reason operative in the universe of things. Thus, the counsels of the book of Proverbs are valid for any man of any nationality. Hence, we see that before the advance of Christianity in any part of the world, there were men who were already disciples of the Eternal Wisdom. These are the first recipients of the Gospel whenever they hear it. These counsels are lived by these naturally just men, who bear and live by the light of God’s pervasive wisdom. “My son, do not refuse a kindness to anyone who begs it, if it is in your power to perform it. Do not say to your neighbour, ‘Go away! Come another time! I will give it to you tomorrow’, if you can do it now.” As we noted yesterday, nature teaches wisdom to those with open minds through the order and harmony established by the divine word in creation. Nature is not the source of war, death, and destruction. These originate from the man of disordered desire, who plots against his unsuspecting neighbour, picks groundless quarrels with another, and does violence he fermented within himself in union with spirits of darkness.

Since the whole creation is the work of the Wisdom of God, anyone who pays attention to nature walks closely with wisdom and learns to act rightly. Nature teaches the fear of the Lord and reveals his path to honest men. The coming of the word of God in salvation history reinforced the visible light of wisdom. Hence, what the wise men learn by careful observation of nature operative in creation, the Law, and the Prophets teach to those who meditate on the word of God. “Lord, who shall dwell on your holy mountain? He who walks without fault; he who acts with justice and speaks the truth from his heart; he who does not slander with his tongue.” The word of God protects those who meditate on it day and night from desiring any creature inordinately. The ordered desires and affection in the hearts of the righteous are like a lamp burning in them that illuminates their conduct.

This lamp is lit in the Christians by their faith in Jesus Christ, by which they possess the unique knowledge of God because of the presence of the Holy Spirit and the Gospel. Our faith in Jesus Christ, which gives us a new life, is the source of light that must enlighten our whole being through constant meditation and contemplation. Because our actions flow directly from our thoughts, Jesus must preoccupy us to illuminate our actions. The humanity of Jesus Christ takes the role of nature in natural wisemen, the role of the word of God in the prophets and people of the Old Testament, in our consciousness. He must capture our attention, hold our imaginations and thoughts, and attract our love, for us to give out his light to others. Our actions will reveal our love. “For nothing is hidden but it will be made clear, nothing secret but it will be known and brought to light.” Padre Pio gives us an example of Christian attachment to Jesus Christ our Lord. He was born in the small village of Pietrelcina in southern Italy and joined the Capuchin friars at 16. He became a priest seven years later. He spent the remaining fifty years of his life in the monastery of San Giovanni Rotondo, where he developed a deep prayer life, guiding people in spiritual life and ministering to their spiritual needs. His love for Jesus Christ made him receive the stigmata, such that he became a living example of our Lord.

Let us pray: Almighty ever-living God, who, by a singular grace, gave the priest Saint Pius a share in the Cross of your Son and, by means of his ministry, renewed the wonders of your mercy, grant that through his intercession we may be united constantly to the sufferings of Christ, and so brought happily to the glory of the resurrection.