Day 21 – Children of the Light

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Yesterday, we talked about the spiritual warfare in which we are engaged in. Nobody wants to lose in a battle. The coach of a sports team requires the players to understand and analyze the strategies of the opponent so as to maximize the chance of winning. As the Chinese proverb says: "Know the enemy, know yourself, and in every battle you will be victorious." How well do we know ourselves and how well do we know our enemy? We need to have the humility to learn from our opponent. That’s right! We have to learn from our enemy! The devil excels in being diligent, disciplined, well-prepared, smart, and strategic. It knows its mission well and remains true to its mission. It works tirelessly until it achieves success. Let us ask ourselves, do we have all these strengths and qualities?

"The journey home" is a rugged path filled with obstacles because Satan does not want us to return home to the Father. In fact, our earthly pilgrimage is our journey back to the Father's House.

The devil would trick and attack us at any time along the way. We might be killed on our way home unless we remain vigilant! This is what the younger son needs to face.
We talked about "addictions" on Day 19 of this retreat. Addictions are often developed while we are alone. That is why it is dangerous to be alone in our "distant country"! Remember how we did things prohibited by our parents behind their backs when we were little? Those were often done in dark and hidden places. When our secret business was uncovered, we would cover up by lying and deny all that we had done. We felt ashamed. We had neither the courage nor the will to face the consequences. Since we knew what we did was wrong, we obviously did not want others to find out about our secret business. We gradually learned to do these things in even more hidden ways so as to avoid exposure. Sadly, that is how we learn to excel in lying. After lying for the first time, we began to get used to it. And we constantly cover up our deeds and wrongdoings by seeking excuses and lying. What makes lying so horrible is that even we ourselves can be deceived by our own lies. In order to find excuses for ourselves, we become habitual liars that we lie not just to others but also to ourselves. We become masters of lying. This is the evil plan the devil has for us!

We cannot be followers of the sons of darkness! We must renounce the devil and its lies, and refuse to let it have dominion over us. The only way to escape the snares of the devil is to run to Jesus to become "children of the light".

"For all of you are children of the light and children of the day. We are not of the night or of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober."

(1 Thessalonians 5:5-6)

Forces of darkness fail to survive in the light, so do our addictions and other secret business. We need to cultivate good habits in a community environment and refuse to nurture bad habits alone in the dark. It is important to know that "community" plays a crucial role in our earthly pilgrimage, that is our journey back to the Father's House.

Families, friends, and the Church are indispensable in our faith journey and our quest for holiness. Just imagine how foolish it is to walk through a journey full of traps and dangers all by yourself! If we believe we can attain holiness by ourselves and insist that we do not need the support of the Church and any faith communities on this quest, we are guilty of pride! Pride can lead us to a perpetual wandering in the "distant country", to indulge in our vices and addictions, and to continue to be under Satan’s yoke. Is that what we would like to see happening to us? We need to wake up and choose light over darkness, to refuse to remain foolish, and to become children of the light!

"And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God."

(John 3:19-21)

REFLECTION

Do you have the tendency to stay in the dark and indulge in bad habits by yourself?

Do you act like a lone wolf, that is, do you enjoy doing your own thing without worrying about others' opinions? Or are you willing to be nurtured in a community environment?

Are you determined to choose light over darkness and be "children of the light"?

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Abba Father, You have told us to become Children of the Light, and to walk in the light. Your teaching is simple and easy to understand. Yet, in the past, I chose to walk in darkness and was easily fooled by the devil. I have developed many bad habits and have offended You in many ways. Pardon me, Lord, and cleanse me with Your blood. Revive my spirit and keep me vigilant to never walk again in darkness. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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Sincerely invite you to share the reflections that inspires you by this day's retreat.