1 March 2013 - bring us near

1 March 2013 - bring us near

We need to come to Jesus like little children.  If we do, he doesn't let anyone get between us and him.  He becomes indignant when people try to keep us away. 

As children we are often brought to Jesus by others.  We are happy to meet him and to know him but have trouble finding him on our own.   Indeed Jesus is pleased to be found in this way.  He likes when people are willing to introduce others to him.  We should be like Andrew who can't wait to tell Peter once he discovers the Lamb of God (cf. Joh. 1:41).  Even now in our day to day walk we still rely on people to bring us closer to God.  The prayers of the angels and saints in heaven and the faithful (clergy, family, spiritual directors, small groups, and more) on earth all allow us to come before him.  Our pride would suggest there is something wrong with this.  But we need to let ourselves be children.  We need to not only embrace Jesus but also those he sends to bring us to him.

We are still spiritual children, often not ready for solid food (cf. 1 Cor. 3:2).  We often let this bother are pride.  We develop distaste for the only food we can stomach.  But if we are simple it is not a problem.  If we can only handle milk we should "crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow" (cf. 1 Pet. 2:2).   We should be simple enough that we "sing a song of priase" when we are in good spirits.  We should be simple enough to pray when we suffer.  And when it is serious, we should be simple enough to trust the shepherds Jesus gives us.

He should summon the presbyters of the Church,
and they should pray over him
and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
The prayer of faith will save the sick person,
and the Lord will raise him up.
If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.

We should not be like the children who will not dance when the pipe is played and will not mourn when the dirge is played.  We must allow the simple longings of our hearts to express themselves in our dependence on Jesus on the people who bring us to him.  Jesus is meant to be the fulfillment of all our desires.  So, even if they are difficult, even if they are not immediately fulfilled, we shouldn't bury them so that we can live without them on our own strength.  We should let them point us toward the Kingdom where eye has not seen and ear has not heard what awaits us.

We are called to remember again the power of prayer.  James tells us that "The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful."  Are we simple enough to believe this or have we become jaded?  Even if we have turned aside and gone very far from the path Jesus wants to bring us back more than anything.

My brothers and sisters,
if anyone among you should stray from the truth
and someone bring him back,
he should know that whoever brings back a sinner
from the error of his way will save his soul from death
and will cover a multitude of sins.

We must return to simplicity so that we can be corrected when we need to be.  To stray from the truth is to stray from Jesus himself.  It is reassuring to see that he not only allows people to bring us to him once, but again and again.  The simplicity which remains with Jesus and does not stay is the beginnings and first fruits of the righteousness that gives power to our prayers.  Gradually, our desires become his desires.  Our words gain the power of his words.

O LORD, to you I call; hasten to me;
hearken to my voice when I call upon you.
Let my prayer come like incense before you;
the lifting up of my hands, like the evening sacrifice.

Jesus, bring us to yourself and let no one prevent us.  Teach us to accept you like children.  LORD, we just want to know your embrace, your blessing, and your touch.  Let us never be so complicated and indeed so convoluted as to turn away.