Reflecting Jesus

Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another? (Luke 7:19) 

This may seem like a strange question to come from John the Baptist, especially since his very mission was to prepare the way for Jesus. But there might have been a good reason for it. John might have expected Jesus to be more like him—a radical zealot who preached a message of repentance. But instead of going into the desert and preaching against Herod, Jesus was traveling throughout the towns and cities, healing people and teaching them to love one another. Was he really the One who would bring a baptism of fire and convict sinners to change their ways?

Jesus’ answer made it clear that he had come as a Savior, not a judge. He came to “bring good news to the afflicted,” and “bind up the brokenhearted” (Isaiah 61:1). He wanted John’s disciples to know that God was not dwelling on their sins—he had a much bigger agenda! Of course he wanted to forgive them, but he also wanted to bring them into a living relationship with him so that they could know the freedom of being his children.

Today, people are still asking if Jesus really is the One who is to come—and we are the ones they’re asking! They are looking to us to see if Jesus is compassionate and merciful. They’re looking to us to see if he is peaceful and gentle. Perhaps they have not known much compassion in their lives. Perhaps someone in the Church has hurt them, whether intentionally or not. We can show them a different face of God.

Your witness can have a special impact this time of year. During Advent, people almost instinctively think about heaven, angels, and Jesus. If they know that you believe in Christ, if they can tell that you have a relationship with him, half of the work is already done. The testimony of your life will soften their hearts and open them to the words you speak. Just as Jesus showed John, you can show your neighbors that they don’t have to wait for someone else. Jesus is the Messiah who has come to heal and forgive and save.

“Jesus, give me the confidence I need so that I can share your love with those who are searching for you.”

from wau.org

A journey

Follow me. (Luke 9:23)

Did you ever go off on adventures when you were a child? Perhaps you journeyed into the woods behind your home or explored an old abandoned building, wondering where all the rooms and staircases would take you. Adventures like these can be fun, even for grown-ups!

Another thrilling adventure is the one that unfolds as we follow Jesus. You never know where he will take you!

We see this in today’s Gospel, when Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” “The Christ of God,” Peter replies (Luke 9:20). Then Jesus goes on to predict his passion and tell the disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. A whole new chapter in Peter’s adventure has begun: the way of the cross. Surely he wondered what else lay ahead for him.

We know that following Jesus led Peter to a life that he could not have imagined: from being a humble fisherman to becoming the rock on which Jesus built his Church. But Peter didn’t know all of this when he began. And it certainly didn’t happen overnight. Still, Peter put his faith in Jesus, and while this meant letting go of some of his own plans along the way, he continued to take each new step because he trusted Jesus. 

Jesus won’t necessarily ask you to leave your family or your job as he asked Peter to. But he does want to be your Savior and Lord. Like Peter’s, your adventure is sure to be filled with twists and turns. You’ve probably encountered some already, in fact, and learned that you don’t have to be afraid. Keep that lesson in your mind the next time you face a new twist. Jesus is always by your side. He is always inviting you to trust him and follow him. He will never let you down!

“Jesus, thank you for calling me to follow you. Help me to hear and do all that you ask, today and always.” 

from wau.org

The Way, Truth and Life

How can we know the way? (John 14:5)

Your brother is going on a business trip, but he won’t say where. “You should know me well enough by now to know where I’m going,” he says. Evidently, it’s not knowledge of geography you need; it’s knowledge of your brother—his ways and his habits.

The night before his death, Jesus tells his disciples that he is going to his “Father’s house.” He says there are plenty of “dwelling places” for them there and, surprisingly, that they already know how to get there (John 14:2).

You can appreciate the disciples’ surprised reaction: “We do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” (14:5). What the disciples don’t yet understand is that they don’t need a map to reach this destination; they need a person. They need him—his way of living, the truths that he has taught them, and his life poured out in sacrifice for them.

What a revolutionary teaching! Of course Jesus gave us commandments as a way to live, but he also summed up all of them in the two greatest commands: to love God and to love one another. If we can just try to do these two things, everything else will fall into place.

Don’t you find it comforting that you don’t need to adhere to every single direction in order to find your heavenly “dwelling place”? In fact, that dwelling place isn’t far off at all. A little bit after he told his disciples that he was the way, Jesus made another promise: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him” (John 14:23). You are the dwelling place of God—he is already in you! 

This is a great paradox of the Christian life: the more you settle down and spend time with Jesus, the farther you will travel on the road to union with him. The way isn’t a set of prescriptions to follow; it’s a Person to love. And even better still: this Person loves you even more. He wants to dwell with you.

“Jesus, you are my way, my truth, and my life.”

from wau.org

An Invitation

I came into the world as light. (John 12:46)

Let’s imagine Jesus speaking directly to us today.

“My brothers and sisters, I came to earth so that everyone who believes in me may not remain in the darkness. So come! Come into my light!

“Come into my light so that you can see the path you should go. Many of you are facing important decisions right now. You don’t have to make these decisions all on your own. Come into my light so that I can help you find the way. Let me show you my hopes, plans, and dreams for you. So often you wonder: ‘Am I on the right path? Is this what I am supposed to be doing with my life?’ Don’t let yourself be consumed with worry. Come into my light, and I will help you.

“Come into my light, for there you will experience the warmth of my love for you. It is cold outside in the darkness. Come and be warmed by the light of my love. Don’t ask if you are worthy to come. Don’t list all the things you need to fix first. Your coming does not depend on your worthiness. It depends on my mercy, and I have already done all that is necessary for you to come! I have already endured the cross. I have already risen from the grave. I have already ascended to heaven and poured my grace into your heart. So come! Come into my light, and let my love warm your heart.

“Come into my light, for no sin will be able to find you there. My light is pure, holy, and true. So come to the light, and let your sin be exposed so that I can cleanse you for good. You say, “How can I rid myself of this thing that has hobbled me for so long?” But you have not yet felt the relief of seeing years of guilt and shame burned away by my light, so that you can shine forth to the world. So come; come and receive my light, and be cleansed.”

from wau.org

Your true worth

Give glory to your son. (John 17:1)

Have you ever seen someone grandstand? You know, trying to grab all the attention for themselves? Some athletes do it after a big game. Some political leaders do it by staging photo ops and giving lengthy speeches to highlight how connected they are with various interest groups. It’s funny, though: the more people seek the spotlight, the less credible—and interesting—they become!

What Jesus does in today’s Gospel reading is the complete opposite of grandstanding. When he prays, “Give glory to your son,” he is not asking for his own glory. In the very next line, he says, “So that your son may glorify you” (John 17:1). In everything he did, Jesus sought to be the perfect reflection of his Father’s glory. He wasn’t interested in celebrity. He wouldn’t have submitted to the cross if he were. And yet he is the most famous person who ever lived. All that humility, love, mercy, and selfless giving did not go unnoticed! 

There is a lesson for us here. We can be so achievement oriented that we miss the grace that is present for us by simply welcoming the Lord into our everyday lives. If we accomplish something that is recognized as important, that’s when we feel important. If we don’t, we can end up feeling unappreciated or worth less than someone else. But our true glory is in God, just as it was for Jesus. It isn’t in what we accomplish or how much recognition we receive for our faithfulness. It’s in nothing less than the great privilege of knowing the Lord, being loved by him, and having him make his home in our hearts.

What will that look like for you today? You probably have some very routine tasks to perform—things that you’ve done countless times and have received little recognition for. Maybe it’s making breakfast for the kids or making sure the bills get paid on time. As you do these mundane, thankless jobs, ask Jesus to be with you. Let them become acts of love for your family and worship for him. Even if you seem invisible to the people around you, know that Jesus sees you. Know that you are glorifying him by your love and faithfulness.

“Lord, help me find your peace, your joy, and your love in all that I do. Let me bring glory to your name!”

from wau.org

Deeper relationship

Do you believe now? (John 16:31)

Toddlers and teenagers seem to “know” everything, don’t they? “I know how to swim,” declares the three-year-old. “Be careful.” “I know, Mom,” spouts the new teen driver as she rolls her eyes in exasperation. Almost any explanation offered is cut short with “I know.” And so often, you know they don’t really know.

That’s how Jesus must have felt when the disciples told him, “We believe that you came from God” (John 16:30). He knew they didn’t really know—he even warned that they would scatter and abandon him. 

There Jesus was, on the eve of his death, exhorting his disciples to take courage. He was the One about to face gruesome trials, and yet he was peaceful enough to offer comfort to his friends. All because he knew—he really knew—that the Father was with him. The disciples assented to the truth and value of what Jesus had told them, but Jesus’ “knowing” went beyond logical assent. It was rooted in a deep, personal, ongoing connection with the Father. Because of that connection, he was able to hold fast when the others couldn’t.

That same “knowing” that Jesus had is for you, too. You are created for it! You are fearfully, wonderfully, and exactly made so that you can know, as Jesus did on earth, God’s presence in you. Not in theory alone, but in actual practice. You can know it because Jesus died and rose, ascended to the Father, and sent his Holy Spirit to live in your heart. He did all this so that you could live in peace and live courageously every day, knowing that he has overcome death for you.

Take a few minutes right now to tell Jesus that you want these truths to take root inside you. Ask him to make it even more personal to you. And then hold on to that connection as you go about your day. When situations arise that shake your confidence or threaten your peace, turn to the Lord, and ask, “What are you thinking right now? What do you want to tell me here?” Listen for his answer. He may surprise you, but he will always reassure you and comfort you.

“Jesus, take me into a deeper relationship with you. I want to know you better today than yesterday.”

from wau.org

The path to peace

Some … have upset you … and disturbed your peace of mind. (Acts 15:24)

It’s a common frustration. You buy something on eBay or from an online retailer or at the local hardware store. But when you begin to use the item, you discover that it’s defective—nicked, outdated, or missing a crucial bolt. The product can’t do the job you thought it could do.

In a way, this is why the new Christians of Antioch were upset. However, their disappointment centered not on a product but on the gospel! These Gentiles had joyfully believed the good news announced by Paul, but after him came other preachers who claimed that he had given them a deficient message. It wasn’t enough to believe in Jesus, they said: “Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved”

(Acts 13:48; 15:1). The Church’s leaders in Jerusalem ruled otherwise, and today’s reading quotes the letter in which they communicated their decision. Essentially, it was: No, you don’t need to observe the Mosaic law. Faith in Christ is what’s essential. 

Christians no longer feel that they need to follow the Mosaic law. We believe that we are saved by the grace of a loving Father who wants to give us good gifts. At least, that’s what we believe. But when our daily crosses get a bit too heavy, when we’re tempted, drained, confused, or at a loss, we can begin to think that the gospel is deficient or defective in some way. 

Jesus didn’t come to guarantee us health, wealth, and prosperity. He came to promise us one thing: “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). He is with us to guide us, to comfort us, and to encourage us. He has given us his Spirit so that we can stand tall, even when all around us seems to be falling apart. He gives us the same promise he gave to St. Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness”(2 Corinthians 12:9). 

So if you’re feeling overwhelmed today, step back, consider the big picture, and put your faith in Jesus. For you, as for those early Christians, it’s the path to peace of mind.

“Jesus, I see so many needs—mine, my family’s, those of the Church and the world. Help me to look up, trust you to provide, and receive the peace and assurance you want to give me.”

from wau.org

Power in the name.

We are witnesses of these things. (Acts 5:32)

The apostles couldn’t keep quiet! The Jewish Sanhedrin had given them strict orders not to teach in Jesus’ name, but they still felt the need to fill Jerusalem with the good news of Jesus’ resurrection. The Holy Spirit was urging them to proclaim Christ and his truth to all that they met, and no one, not even the high priest, could stop them. What’s more, it wasn’t just their public preaching that was causing such a stir. The things they said, the way they related to people, even their very demeanor, revealed the love and power of Christ.

When asked for alms by a man lame from birth, Peter replied, “In the name of Jesus Christ … rise and walk.” And the man did! When asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” he replied that the man was standing before them because of the “name of Jesus” (Acts 3:6; 4:7, 10). The power of God was flowing out of them so much that they had to explain where it was coming from.

There is great power in the name of Jesus! Consider this: when an ambassador acts in the name of his or her president, things happen. When a spokesperson acts in the name of the head of a corporation, people take notice. Similarly, Scripture tells us that when we act in the name of Jesus, things get done. Divine power flows, and lives are changed. The apostles knew that there was power in that name, and they didn’t hesitate to call upon his name to heal, to evangelize, and to build up the Church.

You shouldn’t hesitate to call on the name of Jesus, either! It is one of the greatest weapons available to us in the spiritual battle. When you find yourself getting upset, you can say, “In the name of Jesus, I cast out anger or resentment.” When you see a friend struggling, you can say (maybe under your breath), “In the name of Jesus, I proclaim peace and healing.” Begin today, and you’ll find more and more opportunities to call on the name of the Lord—and to see the power that flows when you do. 

“Lord, teach me how to echo the psalmist: ‘Some rely on chariots, others on horses, but we on the name of the Lord our God!’ (Psalm 20:8).”

 from wau.org