During one community time, candles were lit to indicate the presence of Christ our Lord. As I stared into the flickering flames, I wondered how many of us yearned for light to shine into our lives so that we might glow with Him and for Him....and yet how many of us would naturally recoil from the light lit, also by Him, to be the fire of discipline.

"Do not put out the Spirit's fire;" 

1 Thessalonians 5:19

"This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all." 
1 John 1:5

    NOT

"...My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son.
....No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."   
Hebrews 12:5-11

"I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich;..." 
Revelation 3:18

Pause

Reflection:

* What comes to your mind when you read Jesus' words, "I am the light of the world"?
* Do you need both the light of God's loving presence and the light of the fire of purification?