[ Today's Readings ]
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.
We don't need to feel troubled or abandoned anymore. Jesus wants his presence in our lives to cast those feelings from our hearts. We've probably experienced this before. But maybe it is not yet the consistent state of our hearts. Maybe we still feel troubled and abandoned at times. This Advent the LORD wants to renew in us the grace of the experience of his presence.
No longer will your Teacher hide himself,
but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,
While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears:
“This is the way; walk in it,”
when you would turn to the right or to the left.
We shall see our shepherd. We shall hear his voice. He gives us what we need and heals us where we hurt. This is the kingdom he comes to bring, the kingdom he tells us is at hand. Because Jesus wants to give this gift to as many people as he can he wants people to help him share it.
The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.
We sympathize with those who do not yet know him because we remember what it is like to feel lost and abandon. We see many in the world who still suffer needlessly because they do not yet know the gift of the presence of Jesus. Jesus himself wants us to share what we have first received.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
The renewal of all things begins with the presence of Jesus in our lives. His love is meant to heal and transform us and the world. Let's be open to it.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He tells the number of the stars;
he calls each by name.
No comments:
Post a Comment