What do you see

When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am. (John 8:28) 

When Moses lifted up the bronze serpent, the people who gazed on it saw two things. First, they got a graphic look at their own sins. Grumbling, blaming, and complaining are as deadly as serpents. They slither their way between people and interfere with God’s ability to take care of them. Second, they got a look at God’s mercy. Whoever looked at the bronze serpent was instantly healed.

In the same way, when we gaze at Jesus lifted up on the cross, we see ourselves and Jesus more clearly.

Looking at the cross, we can see ourselves as capable of wounding people by our indifference, our selfishness, and our pride. We see that we can be like Pilate as we wash our hands of responsibility for the needy. We are the soldiers mistreating the people we don’t respect. We are the mob, easily swayed by the fad or feeling of the moment, rejecting anyone who seems out of step. We are the would-be followers running away at the first sign of trouble. We are the faithful friends, helpless and disconsolate, immobilized by fear. We see how our own actions have caused the pain that Jesus is experiencing as he hangs on the cross, suffering for our sins.

But that’s not all. Gazing at the cross, we also see a God who became man because he loves us. We see Jesus looking at each of us with great tenderness and compassion. We hear him promising forgiveness and eternal life to anyone who turns to him in repentance. We see a Messiah who loves us unconditionally, who loves us enough to endure and conquer not only our sins but death itself.

Spend some time in front of a crucifix today, either at home or in church. Don’t worry about whether you have anything to say to Jesus. Just kneel there, and gaze at him in wonder and gratitude. Have the courage to look at whatever he reveals about yourself, but don’t stop there. Keep on gazing until you feel his love driving out your sin and bringing you into the presence of Jesus, your brother and Redeemer.

“Thank you, Lord, for loving me enough to be lifted up on the cross.”

from wau.org

Do you want to be well?

“Do you want to be well?” (John 5:6) 

What kind of question is that? Of course this man wants to be healed! He’s been waiting thirty-eight years for a healing.

So why would Jesus ask him that question? Why wouldn’t he just go ahead and heal the man? Notice that instead of saying yes to Jesus’ inquiry, the man explains why he hasn’t been healed yet: he never gets to the pool quickly enough when the water is “stirred up” (John 5:7). Perhaps the man has grown accustomed to being unable to walk and has resigned himself to it. So Jesus wanted to get to the heart of the matter first. 

The same may be true for us at times. Whether it is a sickness of mind, spirit, or body that afflicts us, we can grow accustomed to it. We don’t really expect things to ever change. In fact, we may even fear how we would live without it.

But what if the Lord suddenly asked you that question? What might you say?

Do you want to be well? “Lord, you know I want to be healed. But sometimes I doubt that you can help me. Take away my doubts, and give me faith in your healing power.”

Do you want to be well? “Lord, I’m afraid to ask you for healing because if I don’t get it, I’ll be disappointed. Sometimes I even wonder if you love me. Help me to put all things in your hands and leave the outcome to you.” 

Do you want to be well? “Lord, I don’t know what becoming well will require of me. I may have to let go of a grudge so that I can receive the grace to forgive. I may have to do new things or encounter new situations that take me out of my comfort zone.” 

Don’t let anything hold you back from asking the Lord to heal you. Whatever your wounds, tell him, “I want to be well.” Then imagine him saying, “Take up your mat, and walk” (John 5:8). You may not be healed instantaneously, but you may receive a much-needed increase in faith and trust in him—along with a clearer sense of how much he loves you. Let him make you well in his time and according to his wisdom.

“Yes, Lord, I want to be made well.”

from wau.org 

Looking forward

They . . . turned their backs, not their faces, to me. (Jeremiah 7:24) 

We often hear the Christian life compared to a journey, and for good reason. When someone takes a journey, it’s because they want to get somewhere—just as we are journeying toward our ultimate destination of heaven. And as anyone on a journey knows, the best way to get to the destination is to keep moving forward. That’s what makes today’s first reading so poignant. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God laments that his people have been going backward and not forward. They have turned their backs to the Lord and started walking away from him and back into the darkness of sin.

Think about this image for a bit. What is sin if it’s not going backward, returning to the urges and desires that cut us off from God and one another? And what is the result of walking backward? We move away from our destination and lose sight of the heavenly life that is our inheritance in Christ.

At the same time, what is a life of faith if it’s not one of constantly moving forward with our eyes fixed on the goal? What is it if it’s not taking the bold step of trusting that God will support us, strengthen us, and fulfill us far more than sin could ever derail us?

When you are faced with temptation today, keep this image in your mind. Remember that the choice is always yours: whether to take a step backward, away from your goal, or to walk forward, out of the swirling drives and urges and into the arms of your heavenly Father. Commit yourself today to continuing on with your journey of trust and love, keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus and his heavenly throne.

Remember too that the journey forward is not one you take alone. You are surrounded by the saints and angels. You have the witness, prayer, and support of brothers and sisters in Christ all over the world. Best of all, Jesus himself is always with you “until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

As this week winds down, take a few moments to examine your journey. Ask if there are any obstacles that you can remove. Is there anything you can do to make your way forward smoother and quicker?

“Jesus, I want to walk toward you today. Help me to reach my goal of union with you.”

from wau.org

The essence of today

This day, . . . Today . . . (Deuteronomy 26:16, 17) 

If an observant Jew were to ask God which day is his favorite, he might expect the answer to be Saturday, the day that God rested. A Christian might expect the answer to be Sunday, the day of the resurrection. But God’s favorite day is today. No, not this date in history, but today, every day, each particular day in which you find yourself. Why? Because today, this very moment, is filled with divine potential. This day is brimming with his power and grace.

Remember the Israelites wandering in the desert. God gave them a new start each and every day. Think about the manna that he provided for them to eat; they could collect enough for only one day. Yet it was there anew every morning (Exodus 16:4-15)! Now, as Moses gathers the people on the edge of the Promised Land, he calls them to trust this same truth: today God will provide everything they need; today he stands fully committed to loving them and protecting them.

You too have a brand-new day today. Yesterday, with all the mistakes and choices you wish you could change, is behind you. Tomorrow, with all the challenges that might make you anxious, is in God’s hands. But today, God is offering you his love. Today, he is offering you his word of wisdom. Today, he is inviting you to follow him. 

Everyone has many different needs, but in addition to meeting these needs, God offers one gift to every single person every single day: his full attention. Right here, right now, he is offering you his faithfulness and love. He knows what today holds, and he is offering you the wisdom you need to face it.

God is not limited to the past stories from the Bible and the ancient saints. Neither is he far away in some future time that you might live to see. “Yesterday, today, and forever,” he is with you (Hebrews 13:8). This is the moment when you can come to him, connect with him, and know how close he really is. He knows exactly what you need, and he already has it in hand for you. “This is the day the Lord has made” (Psalm 118:24)!

“Jesus, thank you for this day. Open my eyes to the grace you have for me, grace that is perfect for today.”

from wau.org

Rest

The Lord will guide you always and give you plenty even on the parched land. (Isaiah 58:11) 

Those who invest in stocks or corporations do so in order to make a certain percentage of money on top of what they first invested. In the financial world, this is known as an “ROI”—a Return on Investment. 

This concept from the world of business and high finance can help us understand a key spiritual principle: God rewards us when we invest our time and effort in him. In today’s first reading, the prophet Isaiah explains that those who spend time caring for the needy and honoring the Sabbath will be rewarded with a “spring whose water never fails” (58:11). That’s like having an infinite return on investment!

But Isaiah isn’t talking only about the time we invest in doing; he is also asking us to spend time resting, or keeping the Sabbath holy.

It’s easy to think that Sunday is a good time to catch up on work and other projects. But God promises that if you take time to step back from your own endeavors on the Sabbath, he will renew you. If you can find a way to put aside your to-do list—even if it’s just for a couple of hours—he will make up the difference in ways you might not expect. You’ll discover the divine irony that doing less actually results in greater gains!

So what can you expect to happen if you set aside a portion of each Sunday this Lent to rest in the Lord? Perhaps by slowing down and relaxing, you’ll find it easier to sense the Lord’s presence. Maybe you’ll discover that you have more time to sit down with your spouse or a child or friend, and learn more about what’s on their heart. Then when you come to the end of the day, you might feel more grateful because you have been able to see more clearly the many ways God has blessed you.

Sharp investors are always on the lookout for a solid return, but they know there is always a risk involved in any transaction. And that’s precisely where this analogy breaks down. There is no risk with the Lord. Anyone who invests in him—especially on his day of rest—is guaranteed to reap a wonderful return. That’s how faithful God is! 

“Lord, help me to honor the Sabbath this Lent by resting with you.” 

from wau.org

Just come

Let the children come to me. (Mark 10:14) 

If you have ever been around little kids for an extended length of time, you know that they are not picture-perfect little angels. Some run around and knock things over, others ask embarrassing questions, and some can’t help but interrupt their parents’ conversations. The kids who gathered around Jesus were no different. There was probably a mix of all kinds of personalities and dispositions—some were rambunctious, some were shy, some were inquisitive, and some were demanding. But no matter how different they were, each of them was attracted to Jesus. And he welcomed them all! In a culture where children were taught to keep out of the way, Jesus wanted them to come closer so that he could bless them. “Let them come,” he said.

Jesus looks at us in the same way. He doesn’t mind if we don’t have it all together. He doesn’t expect us to act perfectly around him. He just wants to be close to us. He knows that each of us deeply desires to be welcomed, to be valued, to belong. And that’s exactly what Jesus wants to tell us. It doesn’t matter whether or not we feel worthy; it doesn’t matter whether or not we fit some ideal of what a friend of Jesus looks like. He just wants us to come to him. 

With that in mind, read this passage again, and imagine all the different kinds of children who were brought to Jesus. Think about the love and patience he must have had. Think about his overflowing joy as he interacted with them, both as a group and individually. Think about how he loved and blessed each one in a special way. 

Now, picture yourself as one of those children. Imagine he’s looking at you as all the others are milling around. He says, “Don’t be afraid,” and holds out his hand. He already knows you inside and out, and he welcomes you. He doesn’t want you to feel unworthy. He sees the goodness that he has put inside of you, and he knows the kind of person you can become. Your rough edges will be smoothed. Can you hear him inviting you? Go ahead and run to him! 

“Jesus, help me to draw near to you like a child.” 

from wau.org

Resting in th Lord

Come away . . . and rest. (Mark 6:31) 

What a gracious, kind invitation Jesus made to the Twelve! It seemed that everyone wanted something from him—healing, deliverance, advice, even a good theological dispute. But Jesus made sure that he spent time with his apostles so that he could teach them how to find rest in God’s presence. He wanted to help them find the right balance between serving God and letting God serve them and tend to their needs.

Balance. Isn’t that one of the biggest challenges we all face? In a world that emphasizes accomplishments and achievement, the call to sit quietly with the Lord and receive his blessing can sound narrow and self-indulgent. But the truth is that everyone needs to spend time alone with Jesus. We all need to come to him in the quiet of our hearts and let him minister to us. For without this time alone, we will have nothing to offer the people we are serving and caring for.

Writing about prayer, the Jesuit theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar once said, “Harassed by life, exhausted, we look about us for somewhere to be quiet, to be genuine, a place of refreshment. We yearn to restore our spirits in God, to simply let go in him and gain new strength to go on living. . . . In a field of quiet, there lies waiting for us a hidden treasure.”

Don’t give up on that treasure! Don’t let the world convince you that you have all the resources you need to face the challenges of life! Every day, Jesus has special gifts set aside for you—treasures that he knows you will need as you face the ups and downs of the day. These treasures may include a verse from Scripture that you can share with a loved one, a warm embrace from his Spirit to support you in a tough situation, or a dose of courage to help you in the fight against temptation.

So take Jesus’ words to heart today. He is calling you right now: “Come away with me.” Carve out a time and a place where you can go with him to rest, to be taught, and to be loved. 

“Thank you, Jesus, for calling me to your side. Here I am, Lord! Come and fill me up.” 

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