What lamp is illuminating your path?

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His Law he meditates day and night.

   - Psalm 1.1, 2

   - Vita Brendani, Irish, 17th century, from an earlier ms.

Celtic Christians, like Brendan (fl. ca. 560 AD) were serious about the Bible. They learned it as children, lived it as adults, preached it as missionary/evangelists, and copied it diligently to ensure that succeeding generations would never want for the Word of God. 

Most of the hagiographical writings (saints’ live) from this period include a passage like the one above, which opens the Life of Brendan. Readers – or listeners, as the case may have been – were to know from the beginning that the hero herein to be celebrated was above all else faithful in the Word of God.

Saints’ lives from this period use a good deal of embellishment, exaggeration, and hyperbole to emphasize the virtues and powers of their subjects; however, in this one area, we’re pretty sure they’re telling it as it was.

This is the way to happiness, righteousness, and blessing – just as the Bible says. We may think we can find fulfillment in things or experiences or even other people. But we can’t, not the ultimate and complete fulfillment our souls require. The only place to gain the fullness of soul that each of us most deeply desires is through feeding on the Word of God as a daily regimen of grace and truth.

Saints like Brendan accomplished a great deal, and the vision and faith that moved and carried them came from their faithful reading and fervent trust in the Word of God. We will never see the kind of revival these great saints were used to bring about until, like them, we make daily commitment to the Word of God our great delight and guiding light.

Have you discovered the happiness, righteousness, and blessedness that await you within the pages of this most glorious of books?

Psalm 1.1, 2 (St. Thomas: “I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord”)
How blessed are they that shun sin’s vain and wicked ways.
For them has Christ salvation won; He loves them all their days.

God’s Word is their delight; they prosper in its truth.
In it they dwell both day and night to flourish and bear fruit.

Lord, Your will is for us to fulfill what You have commanded; help me to fulfill that will be abiding in Your Word. Adapted from Columbanus, Sermon III

The secularist may snort, but it's true nonetheless.

Colum feasted on God’s Word, and particularly His Law.

If the living and active Word is in you, you'll know it.