Signs of glory

All this you were allowed to see. (Deuteronomy 4:35) 

The Hebrews whom Moses led out of Egypt saw spectacles we can only imagine: plagues, pillars of cloud and fire, and a sea that parted before them and closed on Pharaoh’s army. Just recounting all the miracles and signs and wonders surrounding the Exodus can make us tired. Surely God could have just picked up his people and transported them directly to the Promised Land instead! But he didn’t. He chose to lead them by signs and wonders so that they would know that the Lord is God—and there is no other.

Likewise, God wants to give us signs and wonders to help convince us that he is the one and only God. His signs are all around us. Brilliant sunsets and billowing clouds, towering peaks and rushing streams, daily proclaim his glory. The vast variety of plants and animals on our planet declares his infinite beauty and creativity—and, in some cases, his sense of humor. The slow erosion of mountains and the movement of glaciers show his limitless patience, while gales and blizzards tell of his vast power. 

God’s signs and wonders aren’t just visible around you; they are within you as well. Pillars of fire may be rare, but the Holy Spirit might “light up” a Scripture verse to help you understand God’s mind a little better. Or you might read the story of a saint and gain a new appreciation for another way that God has worked in the world. Or God might give you the grace to cross “seas” of discouragement or fear so that you can emerge stronger and closer to him. 

God is always sending you signs that he is alive and present. It just takes practice to recognize them. One way to start is with praise—maybe praising him for the glory of a glowing sunrise or the pleasure of a cooling breeze on a hot day. Look for the ways he has helped you forgive someone or has given you a sense of how much he loves you. If you open your eyes today, you can be confident that you’ll see the glory of God. 

“Lord, open my eyes so that I can see your power at work in my life today.”

from wau.org

God with us

What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you. (Acts 17:23)

In the opening paragraph of his encyclical Faith and Reason, Pope John Paul II wrote: “Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth; and God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know himself.” Today’s first reading depicts the Athenians as a people who earnestly desired to rise to that contemplation of truth, and it tells us how Paul offered them the good news as a way to strengthen their “faith wing.”

In the time of Paul, the city of Athens was full of temples and shrines to various deities. Using human reason, the Greeks came to the correct, but incomplete, conclusion that there was a vast spiritual realm that we can’t fully see or comprehend. Their society was built on the idea that a people would thrive so long as they kept the gods happy and be punished if they did not. So a sense of fear became a built-in part of their spirituality. They were so anxious about keeping every single god happy that they erected a shrine—probably several, according to archaeologists—to an “Unknown God,” in case they had left anyone out (Acts 17:23). 

Notice how gracious Paul is—and how smart. Instead of accusing the Greeks of idolatry, he commends their search for the truth. Then he uses their concept of an unknown god to introduce a new idea: this god has made himself known—and he is the one true God! Not only that, but he has stepped out of the shadows to walk with us.

Recalling this story highlights the miracle of the Incarnation, the miracle of God making himself known to us in a personal way. God saw our longing for the truth, so he sent Jesus to come be with us and to show us the truth. He is no longer unknown. In everything he said and did, especially in his cross and resurrection, Jesus revealed the invisible, all-powerful God. And wonder of wonders, he showed us that God is our Father, our Redeemer, and our Friend!

from wau.org

God is enough

Take nothing for the journey. (Luke 9:3)

Sunscreen. Diaper bag. Contingency plans. Hope. If you were to do a Google search on the phrase “Don’t leave home without it,” hundreds of millions of results will suggest what that “it” should be. And yet Jesus sent out his apostles with no money, food, or change of clothes. While that might strike us as reckless, he wanted them to learn something vital to the Christian life: God is enough. He is always enough. Nothing is inherently wrong with money, food, clothes, or other helps to life, but in the end, God is enough.

God is enough to bridge the gap between what he calls you to do and what you think you can do. His provision, as well as his love for you, rules out the objections that can whisper darkly in your thoughts: “You’re not good enough or smart enough or young enough or old enough. You don’t have enough time or freedom or compassion or skill to answer God’s call.” The apostles show that if you detect God’s leading and respond in faith, he will make up for any lack you may see in yourself.

Relying on God is a joyous collaboration, not an excuse for sitting by and waiting for him to do all the work. As you take steps in faith and reach the limit of your resources, God will provide new ideas and energy. He will rekindle passion and stir creativity. He will open doors for his children—often by the hands of other children of his. More than any material blessing, though, he will provide faith, hope, and love. He will walk beside you along the way.

God loves you. We can’t say it enough. He cares about you. He wants you to do well. He has created you for a unique purpose on this earth. So it stands to reason that he has a vested interest in helping you accomplish the very things he has created you for. He will help you grow in grace and understanding as you work with him. He will develop your gifts and talents, even as he empowers you with his own supernatural grace to serve him.

So rest assured, God is enough!

“Lord, free me from self-doubt and worry. Teach me that you are enough as I take up your call in my life.”

Our eternal friend

Where did this man get all this? (Matthew 13:56)

How could Jesus’ townsfolk not see who he really was? He had already performed so many miracles and spoken so insightfully about the Law of Moses. But to them he was still the carpenter’s son from down the street. So because they came to him with such low expectations, they were kept from experiencing the healings, deliverances, and other works of wonder that so many others had received. By their lack of faith, they placed limits on what they would allow God to do for them.

Do you limit Jesus? Has he become your Savior only on Sundays or in times of crisis and difficulty? Of course he wants to touch you during Mass. And yes, he loves to be with you in the hard times. But he wants to be so much more as well. He wants to talk with you and walk with you as he did with Adam and Eve in the garden. He wants to give you counsel in your decisions, cheer you on in your successes, and teach you from your mistakes. He wants to give you good gifts and teach you how to serve your loved ones more humbly. Jesus wants to be your constant companion!

It can be hard to believe, but God really does delight in revealing himself in the everyday events of our lives. What’s more, he actually enjoys being with us, even when we’re sitting through a meeting at work, watching television at home, or doing the laundry. The more we learn how to sense his presence, the more we will receive his blessings, his revelations, and his love.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus is completely committed to you! Even when your mind is taken up with the demands of the day, he is still close to you. You may not be able to feel his presence all the time, but he is there, speaking words of love, shielding you from the devil, and forming you in hidden, unseen, ways. In the face of such love, how can you do anything but place your faith and trust in him?

from wau.org

Divine Assistance

I am going fishing. (John 21:3)

Jesus’ resurrection left the disciples with much to think about. And yet, for all that had changed, today’s Gospel reading shows that some things remained the same. Peter and the others still had to eat. They still had to take care of their families. And, wonder of wonders, they still could rely on Jesus to work wonders in their lives.

This wasn’t the first time that Jesus helped Peter and the others with a miraculous catch of fish. A similar thing happened at the very beginning of their discipleship (Luke 5:1-11). But now, at the end of their time with him, just as he is about to send them out to preach and build the Church, Jesus shows that he has no intention of leaving them alone. He may be ascending to heaven, but he will still be with them. He will continue to open up new and brighter horizons for them.

Many of us have examples of God having worked in our lives in the past. Perhaps it was a dramatic healing or conversion. Maybe it was a gradual sense of his presence that changed our way of thinking. Maybe he helped us mend a broken relationship. These are all wonderful experiences that we should treasure. But they’re not the end of the story! Today’s Gospel tells us that when God steps into our lives, things change—and they keep on changing. Step by step, milestone by milestone, the Holy Spirit works to bring us closer to Jesus. Even the ordinary, everyday aspects of our lives can take on new and deeper meaning—simply because of God’s presence. 

Is God stepping more deeply into your life right now? Yes! As much as he has done already, he wants to do even more. He wants to give you a greater sense of belonging to him. He wants to strengthen the friendships you have that are founded on him. He wants to guide you in your work and in your family. Every day, he asks you to cast your net into the sea of his grace so that you can receive deeper and deeper blessings.

“Jesus, I know you have more to give me. Help me not to be satisfied with what I already have. Lord, I want to be a generous receiver of your grace!”

from wau.org

Comforting words-"I AM"

Before Abraham came to be, I am. (John 8:58)

Throughout this long conversation with the Jewish leaders, Jesus had been hinting at his identity—and angering his opponents in the process. Up to this point, they had already called him a liar, accused him of being a Samaritan, and even suggested that he was demon possessed (John 8:48). You can just imagine them asking, Just who do you think you are, anyway? They might have found it hard enough to swallow if Jesus hadn’t gone beyond implying that he was greater than the great patriarch Abraham (8:52-57). But now, by saying, “I am”—a statement which was reserved only for Yahweh to make—Jesus identified himself with Almighty God (8:58)! The claim so infuriated them that they picked up stones to kill him.

We have quite a different dilemma today. Unlike first-century Jews, many people today don’t think too much about Jesus’ identity. They see him as little more than a noble man or a doer of good deeds. And as a result, their vision of life is sadly limited.

For us who believe, however, understanding who Jesus is can open up possibilities we might never have considered before. Jesus is the great “I am.” In his person reside all the qualities of God himself. As the eternal Son of God, he has always existed. Before the world began, he was predestined to rule over us as a shepherd tends his sheep. Even before we fell into sin, the Father intended to send his Son to us to fill us with divine life and bring us into his presence. 

Hearing Jesus declare himself “I am” stirs our hearts with the assurance that we are in a safe place. It tells us that the eternal God knows every moment of our lives and that he is with us in every situation. He-who-is never lets us out of his sight—and how wonderful that is! Even when we stumble in sin and disbelief, Jesus is ready to lead us back into his Father’s embrace.

What love God has for us! Today let’s thank him for his faithfulness and ask his Spirit to impress these truths more deeply in our hearts. 

“Jesus, how comforting it is to know of your unfailing love! Let your word penetrate my heart, that I may see you as you truly are: the awesome, eternal Son of God.”

from wau.org

Christ with us

I do write a new commandment to you … for the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. (1 John 2:8)

Are you still basking in the glow of Christmas? Perhaps midnight Mass was especially uplifting this year. Or a holiday concert still has you singing under your breath. Maybe you got to spend quality time with some family members you seldom see, or someone really appreciated the gift you chose for him or her.

These are all instances of “darkness passing away” so that the “true light,” the light of Christ, can shine in your life (1 John 2:8).

Sooner or later, we will take the lights off our trees. The nativity set will go back into its box for another year. We will carefully wrap the ornaments and put away the memories they represent. It’s fine to hold on to those memories, by the way, as well as the happy memories we just made this Christmas. But don’t forget what John tells us here. Lasting light is already shining. With the birth of Christ, something radically new has entered our world. Something—Someone—has filled us with hope and pointed us in a new direction. So besides looking back with gratitude, we can look forward joyfully to the day when we will be in heaven, filled with God’s grace and healed of every wound sin has ever inflicted on us.

Don’t make the mistake of boxing up the gift of Jesus’ presence and putting it away until next year—or even next Sunday. Your life may seem to go on as usual after the end of the Christmas season, but because Jesus has been born into our world and into your heart, everything is new. Nothing can ever be the same. 

It may sound like the same old commandment, “Love one another.” But because God has come to live among us, loving one another is no longer just a shining aspiration. It’s a very real possibility. Christ is in you, and he really can reach out to everyone around you. Give him the chance. It doesn’t take much to start, just a kind gesture or a word of encouragement.

“Jesus, your presence is the greatest gift of all. Help me to live in the light of your love today.”

from wau.org

You're invited

You’re invited! The God of the universe is inviting you—personally! He says to you, “Come, dine with me. Sit next to me, and talk with me.” Let that invitation sink in. God wants to share his thoughts with you. Not only that, but he is inviting you to share your thoughts with him. He is eager to spend time with you—not just at the banquet of the Mass but in daily prayer and in simple conversation as you go through your day.
It’s easy to be occupied mentally, to be busy physically, to have excellent reasons why “now” is not a convenient time. Still, God is inviting you! He’s worth rearranging your schedule, just as you would cancel all your other appointments if you were invited to a state dinner or if you had the chance to meet your favorite performer backstage. So ask the Lord to stir your heart once again today, so that you can accept his invitation, even at the expense of the other good things you have to do.

from wau.org

Your Presence

Happy new year folks. This year I pray that :

‘May the Lord bless you
  and keep you.May the Lord smile down on you
  and show you his kindness. May the Lord answer your prayers
  and give you peace.

Today, I just wanted to share the message the Lord laid on my heart for this year. HE is asking us to cherish His presence, that His presence would be all that we need and desire every single day, as we journey through out these 365 days. God bless you all.

As usual I found a song that expresses this message so explicitly, written by Israel Houghton. I pray that you listen and meditate on the lyrics: