7 October 2013 - quit your whaling
“Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it;
their wickedness has come up before me.”
Jonah has to say to the people of Nineveh, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be overthrown." Naturally, he is reluctant to say it. He doesn't want to tell them they are wicked. He doesn't want to tell them their whole world is at risk. This is a hard message even if for someone who wants them to repent which Jonah clearly does not. At least he remembers, even amidst his resistance, that he worships "the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." Because he remembers this, he is willing to give God the credit for the storm threatening the ship. Yet in spite realizing that the LORD is in control in some sense he still won't cooperate to save Nineveh.
Sometimes the LORD asks us to enter into difficult situations. Sometimes he asks us to speak words which are hard. Yes, we have to remember his power and majesty. But to succeed we will need to set aside our need to be in control. Our need to be in control can be paralyzing and prevent us from even entering situations into which God calls us. But sometimes he won't take no for an answer.
But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah;
and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish
three days and three nights.
In three days Jonah "dies" to his willful pride. He realizes that his life is completely beyond his control regardless of what he does or where he goes.
For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the sea,
and the flood enveloped me;
All your breakers and your billows
passed over me.
Yet this is not to be the end for him. His prayer reaches the LORD. When the fish spews him forth upon the shore he still isn't happy about the message he is to preach. But he is ready to preach it.
Jonah ends up acting as a neighbor to the Ninevites in spite of himself and how he feels. The LORD wants to break down these barriers of alienation so that we may stop asking, "who is my neighbor?" He doesn't want us to run to Tarshish. He doesn't want us to pass by "on the opposite side." Instead, he wants us to have hearts like his.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.
His mercy knows no bounds. It comes to us while we are still sinners and enemies of God (cf. Rom. 5:8). It is this very mercy that makes us fellow citizens with the saints instead of strangers from different and hostile nations (cf. Eph. 2:19). For all are one in Christ (cf. Gal 3:28). We must therefore "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (cf. Eph. 4:3). And really, going to Ninvah straight away rather than by whale is easier for us as well. But we can be reassured that the LORD won't leave us in the hardness of our hearts. If he is doing a difficult work in us let us keep the desire that Jonah expresses from within the whale.
yet would I again look upon your holy temple.”
He has problems loving his neighbor. But in this difficult circumstance he still seems to be clinging to God. He still seems to be loving God as we are enjoined:
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
If we just cling to the LORD- if we just desire to look upon his holy temple, even in hard times- he will be able to give us hearts of flesh no matter how hard they are.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Sunday, October 6, 2013
6 Octoboer 2013 - power, love, self-control
6 Octoboer 2013 - our share of hardships
How long, O LORD? I cry for help
but you do not listen!
We can easily sympathize with this complaint. Our prayers are never heard on our schedule or in line with our will and plans. This begs the question of whether we will ever be answered. If God won't answer us in the way we want does he truly care for us?
We know that he makes all things work together for the good of those who love him and who are called according to his purpose (cf. Rom. 8:28). Yet when trouble comes we still doubt his goodness. It makes it hard to proclaim our testimony to him. It makes us ashamed.
So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,
nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;
So what is the problem then? How do we bear our "share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God"?
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice
but rather of power and love and self-control.
We fear that suffering means that God does not love us. But his love is constantly available to us through the Holy Spirit. In good times and in bad we must stir up this gift.
I remind you, to stir into flame
the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.
It can be mere embers if we neglect it. If we allow this to happen we won't experience the full power, love, and the strength that comes from God. Without these we'll face hardships on our own and be quickly overwhelmed.
In the face of suffering we realize how small our faith is. The LORD is inviting us to ask him for more. Even a little faith has the power to move mountains. We tend to try everything else first when there is a mountain in our way. But "the just one, because of his faith, shall live."
We have seen the works of the LORD. Let us not harden our hearts. Let us not be rash, turning everywhere but to the LORD. We have to be willing to lay down our control and to accept the gifts of faith and the Holy Spirit which he gives. This is the way which leads to joy.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
We are, no doubt, unprofitable servants, but look at how he rewards us.
How long, O LORD? I cry for help
but you do not listen!
We can easily sympathize with this complaint. Our prayers are never heard on our schedule or in line with our will and plans. This begs the question of whether we will ever be answered. If God won't answer us in the way we want does he truly care for us?
We know that he makes all things work together for the good of those who love him and who are called according to his purpose (cf. Rom. 8:28). Yet when trouble comes we still doubt his goodness. It makes it hard to proclaim our testimony to him. It makes us ashamed.
So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,
nor of me, a prisoner for his sake;
So what is the problem then? How do we bear our "share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God"?
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice
but rather of power and love and self-control.
We fear that suffering means that God does not love us. But his love is constantly available to us through the Holy Spirit. In good times and in bad we must stir up this gift.
I remind you, to stir into flame
the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.
It can be mere embers if we neglect it. If we allow this to happen we won't experience the full power, love, and the strength that comes from God. Without these we'll face hardships on our own and be quickly overwhelmed.
In the face of suffering we realize how small our faith is. The LORD is inviting us to ask him for more. Even a little faith has the power to move mountains. We tend to try everything else first when there is a mountain in our way. But "the just one, because of his faith, shall live."
We have seen the works of the LORD. Let us not harden our hearts. Let us not be rash, turning everywhere but to the LORD. We have to be willing to lay down our control and to accept the gifts of faith and the Holy Spirit which he gives. This is the way which leads to joy.
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
We are, no doubt, unprofitable servants, but look at how he rewards us.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
5 October 2013 - ten times the more
5 October 2013 - ten times the more
You were sold to the nations
not for your destruction;
Even if the situation we face is pretty bad we don't need to fear. Even if it seems very much opposed to God's plan (for the Church or for us) we must recognize that, while he doesn't cause such things, he does allow them and is capable of bringing still greater good from them.
Can God really bring greater good from the destruction of innocent human life, the rampant misuse of sexuality, and the suppression of religious freedom itself? Absolutely. The Israelites face these same problems and God does for them just as he can for us.
Fear not, my children; call out to God!
He who brought this upon you will remember you.
As your hearts have been disposed to stray from God,
turn now ten times the more to seek him;
What if, because of these circumstances (of nation, or family, or self) we seek him "ten times the more" than ever before.
The LORD "hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not." That is why Jesus gives us power to push back the strongholds of darkness in our world.
Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.
Behold, I have given you the power
‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions
and upon the full force of the enemy
and nothing will harm you.
As God works to "rebuild the cities of Judah" through the power of his Spirit in us he wants to lift our minds up from the temporary manifestations of his kingdom to the permanent.
Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you,
but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
There is always the risk of failure and collapse in this world. We are never so strong that we can't stumble and fall. But the LORD is leading us to a place where happiness cannot be sabotaged and where peace lasts forever.
For he who has brought disaster upon you
will, in saving you, bring you back enduring joy.”
You were sold to the nations
not for your destruction;
Even if the situation we face is pretty bad we don't need to fear. Even if it seems very much opposed to God's plan (for the Church or for us) we must recognize that, while he doesn't cause such things, he does allow them and is capable of bringing still greater good from them.
Can God really bring greater good from the destruction of innocent human life, the rampant misuse of sexuality, and the suppression of religious freedom itself? Absolutely. The Israelites face these same problems and God does for them just as he can for us.
Fear not, my children; call out to God!
He who brought this upon you will remember you.
As your hearts have been disposed to stray from God,
turn now ten times the more to seek him;
What if, because of these circumstances (of nation, or family, or self) we seek him "ten times the more" than ever before.
The LORD "hears the poor, and his own who are in bonds he spurns not." That is why Jesus gives us power to push back the strongholds of darkness in our world.
Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.
Behold, I have given you the power
‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions
and upon the full force of the enemy
and nothing will harm you.
As God works to "rebuild the cities of Judah" through the power of his Spirit in us he wants to lift our minds up from the temporary manifestations of his kingdom to the permanent.
Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you,
but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
There is always the risk of failure and collapse in this world. We are never so strong that we can't stumble and fall. But the LORD is leading us to a place where happiness cannot be sabotaged and where peace lasts forever.
For he who has brought disaster upon you
will, in saving you, bring you back enduring joy.”
Friday, October 4, 2013
4 October 2013 - repair his house, bless the nation
4 October 2013 - repair his house, bless the nation
He considered how to save his people from ruin, and fortified the city to withstand a siege.
The Church is ever falling into ruin due to our human weakness. It is no different in the time of St. Francis. He too hears, 'Francis, go and repair my house which, as you see, is falling into ruin.' The church of San Damiano near which he hears this looks like it has already failed to withstand a siege. It is on the verge of collapse.
And in our own day as well the Church faces many obstacles. Relativism, materialism, the tyranny of false tolerance, and alienating selfish pride seem to block all possibility of growth. Look at the Church. On the one hand we feign sharing the optimism that our popes and leaders really have. On the other hand we can't even imagine much progress on a small scale. Can we imagine Jesus as the LORD of our city or even our street? Can we even imagine him genuinely reigning within our parish? Our family?
Yet Francis sees similarly insurmountable obstacles and is undeterred. Our leaders see such obstacles and still have great hope. Francis repairs God's house, fortifies his temple, and queries out a cistern for the water of life.
In his days a cistern for water was quarried out, a reservoir like the sea in circumference.
It is like the sea in circumference. No wonder we hear the promise that we will never thirst (cf Joh. 6:35). St. Francis is a source from which this living water flows (cf. Joh. 7:38). That is why he is able to dig a cistern for it. God's temple is firmly established in his heart so he has the strength to rebuild the earthly temple. What is the secret which he knows that we forget?
At that time Jesus declared, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes;
yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will.
St. Francis is simple enough to trust in the promises of the LORD. Above all he takes to heart the promise that if we take the LORD's yoke upon us and learn from him:
you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
No task is too great for someone who truly believes these words. They experience the power of God working within them such that they rest in him even while to the world they appear to be working beyond the point of exhaustion.
We must say to the LORD, "Thou art my Lord; I have no good apart from thee." If the LORD is our "chosen portion and cup" he will hold uphold us with his strength. Otherwise we come before Jesus do not experience his rest because we cling to our own burdens. Ultimately, we are seeking our reward apart from him. If we have "no good apart from thee" we do this we are transformed from one degree of glory to another (cf. 2 Cor 3:18) without even realizing how it happens. We will find in ourselves the image of Jesus more and more.
Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
No effort of our own merits such conformity with Christ. We can barely tell it is happening. We lose ourselves in the love which he empowers and then rejoice to find him living within us in the power of the resurrection.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.
He considered how to save his people from ruin, and fortified the city to withstand a siege.
And in our own day as well the Church faces many obstacles. Relativism, materialism, the tyranny of false tolerance, and alienating selfish pride seem to block all possibility of growth. Look at the Church. On the one hand we feign sharing the optimism that our popes and leaders really have. On the other hand we can't even imagine much progress on a small scale. Can we imagine Jesus as the LORD of our city or even our street? Can we even imagine him genuinely reigning within our parish? Our family?
Yet Francis sees similarly insurmountable obstacles and is undeterred. Our leaders see such obstacles and still have great hope. Francis repairs God's house, fortifies his temple, and queries out a cistern for the water of life.
In his days a cistern for water was quarried out, a reservoir like the sea in circumference.
It is like the sea in circumference. No wonder we hear the promise that we will never thirst (cf Joh. 6:35). St. Francis is a source from which this living water flows (cf. Joh. 7:38). That is why he is able to dig a cistern for it. God's temple is firmly established in his heart so he has the strength to rebuild the earthly temple. What is the secret which he knows that we forget?
At that time Jesus declared, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes;
yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will.
St. Francis is simple enough to trust in the promises of the LORD. Above all he takes to heart the promise that if we take the LORD's yoke upon us and learn from him:
you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
No task is too great for someone who truly believes these words. They experience the power of God working within them such that they rest in him even while to the world they appear to be working beyond the point of exhaustion.
We must say to the LORD, "Thou art my Lord; I have no good apart from thee." If the LORD is our "chosen portion and cup" he will hold uphold us with his strength. Otherwise we come before Jesus do not experience his rest because we cling to our own burdens. Ultimately, we are seeking our reward apart from him. If we have "no good apart from thee" we do this we are transformed from one degree of glory to another (cf. 2 Cor 3:18) without even realizing how it happens. We will find in ourselves the image of Jesus more and more.
Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
No effort of our own merits such conformity with Christ. We can barely tell it is happening. We lose ourselves in the love which he empowers and then rejoice to find him living within us in the power of the resurrection.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
3 October 2013 - simply wise
3 October 2013 - simply wise
for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
The word of God is powerful. The proclamation of the word cuts to the heart (cf. Acts 2:37) because it is sharper than a two-edged sword (cf. Heb 4:12). Yet this is not a cause for fear or sadness.
“Hush, for today is holy, and you must not be saddened.”
We are pruned by the word of God. Parts of our lives that don't bear fruit are cut off. But if we dwell on those things we will be like the Israelites in the desert whose hearts are still in Egypt (cf. Exo. 16). We mustn't return to that which we vomit up (cf. 2 Pet 2:22). And the thing is, why would we want to return? It is only sadness and pain! Don't romanticize it. Don't dwell on it. Let's move forward on the path of life! There is no room for the sadness we leave behind in the presence of the far greater thing we receive.
Do not be saddened this day,
for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!”
And this is not just abstract spiritual rejoicing. We are called to genuinely celebrate and rejoice!
He said further: “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks,
and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared;
for today is holy to our LORD.
The decrees of the LORD refresh us, they give us wisdom, they enlighten us, the endure forever, are just and are more precious than gold or honey. They give us good reason to rejoice. And what is required of us to receive this "joy to the heart"?
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
Let us be simple! Let us not complicate the simple because we ourselves are too complicated. Let us be childlike and place our trust in the promises of God for us. We must be as simple as lambs even in a world full of wolves.
Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Possessions and plans can just be complications and distractions. We must be simple enough to go to where we are called and not to wander and stray.
Do not move about from one house to another.
Ultimately, the fact the the "Kingdom of God is at hand" is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey. Let us know and proclaim it so that we may have joy of heart.
for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.
The word of God is powerful. The proclamation of the word cuts to the heart (cf. Acts 2:37) because it is sharper than a two-edged sword (cf. Heb 4:12). Yet this is not a cause for fear or sadness.
“Hush, for today is holy, and you must not be saddened.”
We are pruned by the word of God. Parts of our lives that don't bear fruit are cut off. But if we dwell on those things we will be like the Israelites in the desert whose hearts are still in Egypt (cf. Exo. 16). We mustn't return to that which we vomit up (cf. 2 Pet 2:22). And the thing is, why would we want to return? It is only sadness and pain! Don't romanticize it. Don't dwell on it. Let's move forward on the path of life! There is no room for the sadness we leave behind in the presence of the far greater thing we receive.
Do not be saddened this day,
for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!”
And this is not just abstract spiritual rejoicing. We are called to genuinely celebrate and rejoice!
He said further: “Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks,
and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared;
for today is holy to our LORD.
The decrees of the LORD refresh us, they give us wisdom, they enlighten us, the endure forever, are just and are more precious than gold or honey. They give us good reason to rejoice. And what is required of us to receive this "joy to the heart"?
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
Let us be simple! Let us not complicate the simple because we ourselves are too complicated. Let us be childlike and place our trust in the promises of God for us. We must be as simple as lambs even in a world full of wolves.
Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Possessions and plans can just be complications and distractions. We must be simple enough to go to where we are called and not to wander and stray.
Do not move about from one house to another.
Ultimately, the fact the the "Kingdom of God is at hand" is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey. Let us know and proclaim it so that we may have joy of heart.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
2 October 2013 - my guardian dear
2 October 2013 - my guardian dear
"Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place which I have prepared.
There are deeper truths than the ones which our eyes can see. If we could see spiritual things we would behold beings of light with immense strength standing close and guarding us (not to mention the powers of darkness which they keep at bay). This is what the Church teaches when she tells us that every person has a guardian angel:
for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
If we could see them with our eyes we would not fail to be devoted to them and to love them. Their care for us is steadfast and comprehensive.
no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways.
With so great a blessing we are called to respond. We read that we must give "heed to him and hearken to his voice" and to "not rebel against him." This really seems like very little to ask for the privilege of being guarded by supernatural beings. Yet we do rebel against our angels. They try to guide us on the path which God intends for us. We are often heedless of this guidance. We go our own way. We even sin, always in spite of the protests of our guardian angel and their offer of strength and assistance.
We forget that God has prepared a place to which his is guiding us. When we forget this we quickly cease to value the guides and protectors he offers us for this journey. Yet if we remember that we are on a journey and rely on the protection which God provides we can experience his unshakable peace and courage. If we forget this we quickly perish in the desert of sin for we are surrounded by danger on every side.
You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
Let us be humble like little children, ready to accept all the help our Father provides.
Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
"Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place which I have prepared.
There are deeper truths than the ones which our eyes can see. If we could see spiritual things we would behold beings of light with immense strength standing close and guarding us (not to mention the powers of darkness which they keep at bay). This is what the Church teaches when she tells us that every person has a guardian angel:
for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
If we could see them with our eyes we would not fail to be devoted to them and to love them. Their care for us is steadfast and comprehensive.
no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways.
With so great a blessing we are called to respond. We read that we must give "heed to him and hearken to his voice" and to "not rebel against him." This really seems like very little to ask for the privilege of being guarded by supernatural beings. Yet we do rebel against our angels. They try to guide us on the path which God intends for us. We are often heedless of this guidance. We go our own way. We even sin, always in spite of the protests of our guardian angel and their offer of strength and assistance.
We forget that God has prepared a place to which his is guiding us. When we forget this we quickly cease to value the guides and protectors he offers us for this journey. Yet if we remember that we are on a journey and rely on the protection which God provides we can experience his unshakable peace and courage. If we forget this we quickly perish in the desert of sin for we are surrounded by danger on every side.
You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.
Let us be humble like little children, ready to accept all the help our Father provides.
Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
It is misplaced pride which tries to compel us to make this journey on our own strength. The terrain is beyond us. But God's care is close at hand.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
1 October 2013 - somewhere we belong
1 October 2013 - somewhere we belong
And of Zion they shall say:
“One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High LORD.”
We cannot overstate how much the LORD desires unity among his people. He is a father who can't stand seeing his family fragmented and divided throughout the earth. He can't stand seeing prodigals wandering when he has a great feast to offer them in his house. Our Father's house has no equal anywhere on earth.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
Yet none of our hearts are fixed completely on this home. We have no lasting city anywhere else (cf. Heb 13:14) but we live as though we do. Our minds are not fixed on the things above as they should be (cf. Col 3:2). They are weighed down with earthly concerns. But no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid (cf. 1 Cor 3:11). All else is sinking sand (cf. Mat 7:26).
What is it, then, which finally compels us to leave our exile to seek the "city with foundations whose architect and builder is God" (cf. Heb 11:10).
“Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”
We see God say to the Jewish people, "Emmanuel" (cf. Mat 1:23). He says, 'I am with you, in their midst. He sends Jesus his son to dwell among them.
In those days ten men of every nationality,
speaking different tongues, shall take hold,
yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say,
But he does not send Jesus to the Jews to isolate them still further. Their preparation is now complete and they need be isolated no longer. Jesus comes so to make them the basis for a new a larger family, no longer bound to just one nation. They are the plant to which new (and rather unruly) branches are now grafted (cf. Rom 11:17).
If our hearts still wander in pagan lands let us hear the "that God is with" his people. He is a father to his people and longs to invite everyone to the table of his wedding feast (cf. Mat 22:9). His presence will draw from our hearts the desire to say, "Let us go with you" to his people, the Church. Finally we know where we truly belong, and knowing we rejoice.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
“This man was born there.”
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
“My home is within you.”
And of Zion they shall say:
“One and all were born in her;
And he who has established her
is the Most High LORD.”
We cannot overstate how much the LORD desires unity among his people. He is a father who can't stand seeing his family fragmented and divided throughout the earth. He can't stand seeing prodigals wandering when he has a great feast to offer them in his house. Our Father's house has no equal anywhere on earth.
His foundation upon the holy mountains
the LORD loves:
The gates of Zion,
more than any dwelling of Jacob.
Glorious things are said of you,
O city of God!
Yet none of our hearts are fixed completely on this home. We have no lasting city anywhere else (cf. Heb 13:14) but we live as though we do. Our minds are not fixed on the things above as they should be (cf. Col 3:2). They are weighed down with earthly concerns. But no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid (cf. 1 Cor 3:11). All else is sinking sand (cf. Mat 7:26).
What is it, then, which finally compels us to leave our exile to seek the "city with foundations whose architect and builder is God" (cf. Heb 11:10).
“Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”
We see God say to the Jewish people, "Emmanuel" (cf. Mat 1:23). He says, 'I am with you, in their midst. He sends Jesus his son to dwell among them.
In those days ten men of every nationality,
speaking different tongues, shall take hold,
yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say,
But he does not send Jesus to the Jews to isolate them still further. Their preparation is now complete and they need be isolated no longer. Jesus comes so to make them the basis for a new a larger family, no longer bound to just one nation. They are the plant to which new (and rather unruly) branches are now grafted (cf. Rom 11:17).
If our hearts still wander in pagan lands let us hear the "that God is with" his people. He is a father to his people and longs to invite everyone to the table of his wedding feast (cf. Mat 22:9). His presence will draw from our hearts the desire to say, "Let us go with you" to his people, the Church. Finally we know where we truly belong, and knowing we rejoice.
They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:
“This man was born there.”
And all shall sing, in their festive dance:
“My home is within you.”
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