Lord, help me to reflect your love

The skin of his face had become radiant while he conversed with the Lord

Have you ever noticed the Book of the Gospels when you are at Mass?   It’s hard to ignore: a large ornate volume with a rich gold cover.   The deacon or lector carries it in procession at the beginning of Mass and places it on display in the middle of the altar.   That can seem like quite a lot of ceremony for one book.

Book of the Gospels

But the Gospels are not just a book.   They are the word of God.   The Book of the Gospels is precious because it tells the story of Jesus and his cross and resurrection.   It is also precious because the word of God has the power to lift up people’s hearts and change their lives.   His light shines forth from his word, just as the light bounces off the book’s ornate gold cover.

This is the word that made Moses’ face shine.   The light of God’s presence radiated out of him because he had received God’s word, not just on tablets of stone, but also in his heart.   And so Moses proclaimed the word of God to the people both by speaking that word and by witnessing to the power of that word to change people’s lives.

When to start

Today is a good day to ask how God’s word has changed you.   Perhaps you may not see too much evidence of a change, at least not as dramatic as Moses’ shining face.   But think again.   When you hold your tongue instead of joining in gossip, your witness shines out.   When you share stories about your faith with your children or grandchildren, you are showing how God’s word has changed you.   Simply by making it a point to attend Mass every Sunday is evidence that the word of the Lord has found a place in your heart.

As for that shining face: what do you think it looks like when you go out of your way to help out a friend or when you offer forgiveness to someone who has wronged you?   Your face may not shine like Moses’ face did, but God’s presence still shines out of you.   The warmth of his love still radiates and touches the people around you.   All because the word of God has found a place in your heart.

word among us