A Third Year of God-Light: Year C 2018–2019

By Mary Heyn

A Third Year of God-Light is the final book in a series of three meditation books that highlight the Catholic Churchs church year, cycle C. It begins with Advent of 2018 and goes up to Advent of 2019. Each day of the year includes a brief verse or two of that days mass readings, a meditation about that passage, and a closing prayer starter. The title indicates that God brings light and clarity to this world through his word in sacred scripture.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9781543478471

Mary Heyn

Mary Heyn is a retired Christian elementary school teacher with a love for words, a love for God and people, and an active imagination. She desires to share her faith with others and prays that lives are transformed and new hope is born.

Book preview

Copyright © 2018 by Mary Heyn.

ISBN:                  Softcover                      978-1-5434-7846-4

                            eBook                            978-1-5434-7847-1

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

JB

Scripture quotations marked JB are from The Jerusalem Bible, copyright © 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc. Reprinted by permission.

TLB

Scripture quotations marked TLB are taken from The Living Bible copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

KJV

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

AMP

Scripture quotations marked AMP are from The Amplified Bible, Old Testament copyright © 1965, 1987 by the Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified Bible, New Testament copyright © 1954, 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 02/28/2018

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

773084

Sun. Dec.2 May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another and the whole human race as much as we love you. (1 Thessalonians 3:12) Our God loves to make us more God-like, to share his life with us. I once found a little leaflet inviting me to ‘adopt a terrorist’. The title startled me, but I felt very drawn to do so. I adopted a homegrown terrorist I named ‘Chris’ and pray for him faithfully every day. I may never know until heaven what my prayers did for him, but God knows. Dear God, please be generous in increasing your own love in me, and don’t stop until my love for all others matches your own.

48482.png

Mon. Dec. 3 The centurion replied, ‘Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured. (Matt.8:8) I say these words every time Jesus comes, not only under my roof, but into my very body in Holy Communion. How awesome! Are we really aware of the powerful impact of our small expressions of faith? God takes us at our word and wants to do even more for us than we dare to ask of him, so let’s ask big and boldly. Dear God, I know that I’m not worthy, and you surely know that I’m not worthy; but in your great love please do for me, and all those I love, all that you know we need.

48480.png

Tues. Dec.4 He does not judge by appearances, he gives no verdict on hearsay, but judges the wretched with integrity(Is.11:3-4a) Our God is supremely fair. Am I always fair- or do I still tend to make assumptions about ‘certain kinds of people’? Those assumptions are prejudgments usually made out of fear because of something I have heard. Is God the only judge or not? Dear God, you are the judge! Please deliver me from those biases and prejudgments. Open my heart more and more to all your children.

48478.png

Wed. Dec.5 The disciples said to (Jesus), ‘Where could we get enough bread in this deserted place to feed such a crowd? (Matt.15:33) I often see needs around me that are much greater than my present resources. I see my own poverty as a retired person when God wants to open my eyes to his riches. God always makes a way when there seems to be no way. So, instead of crying out, ‘No way!’ my new cry must be, ‘God’s way! Dear God, no matter how great the needs are, you have a way to fill them, and I’m part of the answer. Please make me generous enough to use my limited resources to fill the great needs of your people.

48476.png

Thurs. Dec.6 Trust in Yahweh forever, for Yahweh is the everlasting rock; he has brought low those who lived high up in the steep citadel. (Is.26:4-5a) Our God is completely dependable and is not impressed with our defenses. The higher we rise the harder we can fall. We have seen great political figures, great Hollywood figures and the very wealthy (among others) take sudden falls from power in our day. We ‘unknowns’ can take comfort in the trustworthiness of our great God. Dear God, I trust you now and always. Thank you for looking with favor on a lowly one like me. Thank you for being a faithful lover. Please continue to hold me fast in my times of weakness.

48474.png

Fri. Dec.7 "(The two blind men’s) sight returned. Then Jesus sternly warned them, ‘Take care that no one learns of this." (Matt.9:30b-31a) Jesus had reasons to warn the men whose sight he restored, but he commissioned us to tell the whole world about him and the wonders he has done. What has Jesus done for you, who have the same commission? Let’s go tell! Dear Jesus, thank you for all the wonders you have done for me, the healings, the favor with others, the daily care and providence… LET THE WHOLE WORLD KNOW!!!

48472.png

Sat. Dec.8 But the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favor. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. (Luke 1:30-31) Mary was told to listen. When God whispers his ways to my heart am I willing to stop and listen, or do I keep going with my routine on autopilot until I’m stopped in my tracks? God is always speaking to our hearts. How well do we listen? Sometimes we may miss his messages and fail to grasp his will for this moment. Speak, Lord, your servant is listening. Because you love me so much and are so powerful in my behalf I don’t want to miss anything that you may want to say to me today.

48470.png

Sun. Dec.9 "Jerusalem, take off your dress of sorrow and distress, put on the beauty of the glory of God forever, wrap the cloak of integrity around you.(Bar.5:1-2a) Sorrow and distress can be habits, just as wearing the same old comfortable clothes every day. God wants his bride dressed in his glory. So let’s let our faces and bearing let the world know that we belong to a great and glorious God who really loves each one of us. Dear God I want to show your joy and reflect your glory while I live no matter what my circumstances are. Please remind me often that I am yours. And letthe dry lands exult

48468.png

Mon. Dec.10 Let the wilderness and the dry lands exult, let the wasteland rejoice and bloom. Let it bring forth flowers like the jonquil, (Is.35:1-2a) Are our lives ever like the wilderness- a dry wasteland? Then it’s really time to let loose and rejoice. It’s time to sing out, recognizing our feelings but not letting them rule us. God has a better plan. Dear God, Alleluia! I praise you now and in every season of my life. You are good, and you rule. Thank you for overcoming all the difficulties and letting your goodness bloom in me like the jonquil blossoms.

48466.png

Tues. Dec.11 Console my people, console them’ says your God. ‘Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and call to her that her time of service is ended, that her sin is atoned for, (Is.40:1-2a) How can we console all the sad and downcast people around us every day? That’s our job. And how can we console ourselves when we are the ones sad and downcast? This calls for a mental revolution, a determined focus on the real good news, the truth that Jesus is. There is no faking here (It will be discovered), but genuine love and a listening heart will heal the most downcast spirit. Dear God, sometimes I’m downcast, but I know that I’m not alone. Please fill me with all the love and joy I need to lift up all downcast spirits, including my own.

48464.png

Wed. Dec.12 (Mary) went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. (Luke 1:40-41) Is my mother Mary also greeting me as she greeted Elizabeth, St. Juan Diego, the children of Fatima, and so many others through the years? The result of her greeting is the infilling and movement of the Holy Spirit that spills over to many others. Dear Mother Mary, thank you for your greeting. Please bring the Holy Spirit that filled you at the greeting of God’s angel Gabriel.

48462.png

Thurs. Dec.13 For I, Yahweh your God, I am holding you by the right hand; I tell you, ‘Do not be afraid, I will help you. (Is.41:13) When I was a little child my dad would always take my hand to guide me across busy streets. I had no fear at all then, only trust, comfort, and delight. That is what our God asks of us now. He is holding each of us by the hand unless we panic and break away. Dear God, I choose to trust you. You are so great and so loving. Please guide me safely across the dangers of this life to the safety of my true home with you.

48460.png

Fri. Dec.14 If only you had been alert to my commandments, your happiness would have been like a river, your integrity like the waves of the sea. (Is.48:18) It is so easy to look back on our lives with regrets! Now our God is saying ‘if only…’. They say that hindsight is perfect. Yet we can look forward in hope and see that our lives will change as our hearts are changed. Dear God, thank you for teaching me, even through my past mistakes. If I had been more patient, more loving, more generous,… my life would be different now. Please continue to change me so the future will be brighter with your glory.

48457.png

Sat. Dec.15 Then the prophet Elijah arose like a fire, his words flaring like a torch… Happy shall they be who see you, and those who have fallen asleep in love. (Si.48:1,11) Do we really want to live forever? Then we need to pay attention to the prophets among us who preach repentance, whose words enflame our lives, who call us to a greater love of God. Dear God, I want eternal life with you. Please fill me with your love, so that when you call me home I will be eager to come with all my baggage burned away.

48455.png

Sun. Dec.16 Shout for joy, daughter of Zion, Israel, shout aloud! Rejoice, exult with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem! (Zeph. 3:14) One night I found myself lost on my way home from an event. I had been driving erratically and was stopped by a police officer. Of course, I was very nervous, but instead of giving me a ticket he gave me clear directions to get home. I was so thrilled that I wanted to sing and dance! That’s how God wants us to react when we receive his forgiveness. Dear God, thank you for your great mercy and undeserved forgiveness. Please