Work in Progress: Sharing The Light

A Lump of Clay's Reflections on the Potter
"Freely you have received; freely give." Matthew 10:8

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Sharing The Light

Today I was reminded of this prayer - this strengthening prayer that so inspired me at the beginning of this mission. I'm back to work, back on the mission, back to helping spread His light and love. May I find Him in everyone who comes my way today!

Dear Jesus, help us to spread Your fragrance everywhere we go. Flood our souls with Your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly that our lives may only be a radiance of Yours. Shine through us, and be so in us that every soul we come in contact with may feel Your presence in our souls. Let them look up and see no longer us, but only Jesus! Stay with us, and then we shall begin to shine as You shine; so to shine as to be a light to others. The light, O Jesus, will be all from You, none of it will be ours; it will be You shining on others through us. Let us thus praise You in the way you love best: by shining on others through us. Let us preach You without preaching, not by words but by our example, by the catching force, the sympathetic influence of what we do, the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to You. Amen.
- Cardinal John Henry Newman

(The Missionaries of Charity pray this prayer every day after Mass, as did Blessed Teresa of Calcutta)