Let the light shine

Friday, April 11, 2008 St. Stanislaus, Bishop, Martyr (Memorial)

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: Revelation 12:10-12 Psalm 34:2-9 John 17:11-19

John 17:15 I do not pray that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil one.

I think about the Olympic torch that was detoured in San Francisco this week. Rather than enter into the street where the protesters were, and all the others who made a special effort to see the torch, they decided to take the torch where nobody could see it.  What is the point?

Jesus doesn't pray to take us out of the troubles.  He prays that we will not fail in them.  Only in the battle can victory be won.  The Olympic torch won no victory, moral or otherwise. If Jesus were simply to call all his people home, there would be no victory.  The only way to victory is to stay and fight.  Scary, yes, but that is why he says that he will be with us and he prays for us.  The key is that we don't succumb to the temptations of the evil one. That we don't give in.  That we don't take our torch and hide it, but rather we let the light of the Lord shine for all to see so that God can be praised.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to always be willing to face tribulation in obedience to you.  I don't want to, and I pray to be delivered from suffering, but help me to stand firm and to trust that victory is yours and not to run scared like the Olympic torch.

Amen