5 February 2018 - what you don't see is

Today's Readings (Audio)

Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered,
they laid the sick in the marketplaces
and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak;
and as many as touched it were healed.

Do we truly value the presence of the LORD? Or do we grow accustomed to it and take it for granted?

When the priests left the holy place,
the cloud filled the temple of the LORD
so that the priests could no longer minister because of the cloud,
since the LORD's glory had filled the temple of the LORD.

When the presence of the LORD is new to us it often feels as impressive to us as it truly is in reality. Yet, over time, our hearts grow dull. We are invited to remember that the LORD's presence in the tabernacle is no less than it was in the temple of Solomon. It is in fact much greater. The cloud of his glory does indeed spiritually fill the churches where he dwells. We are invited by Jesus to rediscover his presence in our midst.

Let us enter into his dwelling,
let us worship at his footstool.

We are invited to draw near. We need to open the eyes of our hearts. Only in this way can we know the hope of our calling and the riches of our glorious inheritance (see Ephesians 1:18). Then we, like the sick laid in his path, are not only in his presence.  We touch him and are transformed.

and as many as touched it were healed.