"beam me up"
"The skin of his face had become radiant while he conversed with the Lord." —Exodus 34:29
Moses was so joyful to be in God's presence and receive the Law that he beamed. He was so radiant that people were afraid to come near him (Ex 34:30). Moses' halo beamed so brightly that he eventually put a veil over his face to protect other people's eyes (Ex 34:35).
After you pray, read the Bible, or receive Communion, are you so radiant that you have to pass out sunglasses to the bystanders? Most of us don't have Moses' problem, but we should. If deep down in our hearts we believe that we have found the precious pearl of God's kingdom, we will glow (see Mt 13:46). If our treasures and hearts are in Jesus, we will have a halo (see Lk 6:45). If our hearts are aware of and overflowing with God's love, we will beam. "The heart of a man changes his countenance, either for good or for evil" (Sir 13:24). "A glad heart lights up the face" (Prv 15:13).
God's Word today may inspire us to do something we may have never done before — to pray for a halo. This is a legitimate prayer, in accord with the Bible and Church traditions. When we pray for a halo, we are actually praying for a heart to receive and give God's love. Haloes are mere side-effects of knowing God's love in our hearts. Pray for a halo.
Prayer: Father, "beam me up."
Promise: "The reign of God is like a buried treasure which a man found in a field." —Mt 13:44
Praise: St. Ignatius wrote the rough draft for his famous Spiritual Exercises during his first year as a Christian.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet Be Holy, for I Am Holy.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 18, 2013
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