God Gives us Light – What is Faith?

Vincentian Day of Prayer and Fast – Tuesday September 8, 2015

Dear Vincentian family have a wonderful week filled with God’s love, serving and making a difference.  You are a miracle to many.  Smile, it is a prayer and can change lives.  Feel His presence always.  Amen

Communicate – Communication is the real brain of an organization.  It is a number one point in our Vincentian work and family.  We need to share with others especially new members.  They often come in knowing nothing and we begin to rattle what we think it is information, but the receiver sees it as orders.  Of course not all the time, but even once is too often.  We should always be friendly and welcoming, using the voice of Jesus to teach others.  One thing, I believe is important is to assign a mentor to new members.  As mentor you can sit with the new member and explain things as you go along, especially at a meeting.  Mentors are always used with home visitors and it is always a teaching on the Vincentian way and Vincentian spirituality.  Communication is a little more than this and I always say it is a two way street.  We receive information down from other levels and we are to share this information.  We also should send ours up and let others know what we are doing.  This keeps our service family.  We will then carry proper communication to all we serve.  We speak, we ask questions and we listen.  Through all this we pray and we serve Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit.  It is not just talking; it is making something better, even if it is temporary.

Joyful Service – “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks.  This is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (1Thess. 5:16-18).  We are followers of Jesus and servants to Jesus and we see things with joyful eyes when we are true to following.  We have joyful hearts to love and serve Him in the poor and all in need.  We bring this joy to our service and with each member of our Vincentian Family, even the ones who annoy us a little.  These are the ones we pray more for and ask for us to change and accept others.  It really makes a difference. Reading Scripture will help you achieve joyful service and be a better, if possible Vincentian.  Well, of course we all need improvement, so we pray and read the Gospels and ask the Trinity to help us and be with us always.  Our service will be joyful if we acknowledge, we cannot do this alone.  We serve Jesus in all people joyfully.  You cannot hide joy; people see and feel your joy.  Be a joyful servant in your parish, Vincentian and human family.  How your life and others will change with your joyful service.

God Gives us Light – We have the power from God to go light our world.  He gave us the Son who taught us and continues to teach us.  He showed us His power with His healing touch.  When Jesus walked the country, healing and seeing all in need the people were astounded.  Mark 7:37 says, “They were astounded beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done everything well, He even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.’  This is the one who gives us light.  This is the one who calls us to serve’’.  We may not be able to make the deaf hear or the mute speak, but we can pray for this always.  We can lift our friends and neighbours from poverty and teach them to plan and budget.  We can be with them when they are going through a crisis.  We can sit with the prisoner and their families and pray for all of them.  We can show the light to others, but not without God’s help.  We don’t need to preach to bring Jesus to them, we need to show them how good they are and how important they are no matter their circumstances.  Never take away their hope.  Always give them the light.  Help them light their world.

What is Faith? – According to Arthur Ward, “Faith is knowing there is an ocean, because you have seen the brook”.  So here are we, sitting and praying our life be a witness, not by proclaiming, but be being a witness to God’s love, a love so great He gave us His Son.  A love so great He put all of us together in this Vincentian Family on a journey to make things better and to serve in His name.  We have been given so many gifts in our Faith.  He has given us everything.  Everything He promised has been given to us.  We must unwrap these gifts to show the beauty to all.  Faith lights our way when shadows hide the sun, when the path is dark and when the winter is long and cold.  There is new life in us to share.  Faith is believing, love and faith is to work miracles.  Recognize the miracles in your life and share your faith by your service and actions.

Blessings,

Lynn

Lynn L’Heureux is Special needs co-coordinator & Advisor of the Society of St Vincent de Paul Calgary Alberta Canada.