Archangel

Monsignor Harry J. Byrne, JCD * * * Comment/contact:larchstar@aol.com

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Location: 3103 Arlington Avenue,, Bronx, NY 10463, United States

October 14, 2010

A SHOWER OF DIAMONDS!

Two trees at the south-west corner of our monastery-like building caught the early afternoon sun at an unusual angle. Each leaf reflected a tiny portion of the sun. The trees were transformed, appearing as though glazed by an ice storm or, as you looked again,each tree sparkled as though festooned with tiny white Christmas tree lights or as having received a shower of diamonds.

The Christian faith is like a shower of diamonds that makes the natural things of life reflect back something of God's power as the trees in the afternon sun reflect back something of the energy and heat of the sun. The shower of diamonds, which make our lives reflect back a greater than natural brilliance, are the words and examples of the more abundant life given us by the new Adam, Jesus,the light of the world. "I was hungry, you fed me; thirsty,you gave me a cup of cold water; a stranger, you took me in; in rags, you covered me; sick, you visited me; in prison, you came to me. As long as you did these things to one of these, my least brethren, you did it to me." How remarkably simple! Each of these acts is a sparkling diamond that the Christian is to wear as it reflects back something of God's light and power.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, the meek, they that mourn, they that hunger and thirst after justice, the merciful, the clean of heart, the peacemakers, they that suffer persecution for justice sake. Each of these qualities, described by Jesus in His sermon on the mount is a precious diamond, signaling the Christian's engagement to his neighbors and his fellows and, through them, reflecting back something of the mysterious life of God.

Like the trees in the afternoon sun, the Christian receives the shower of diamonds from the words and examples of Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.