Category Archives: faith

Pointing to Jesus

Giovanni_di_Paolo_-_Ecce_Agnus_Dei

Ecce Agnus Dei, 1455/60
Giovanni di Paolo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
John 1:29

John points to Jesus as the one who will be sacrificed to save us. Yet I like to meditate on Jesus as the one who came to be with us because of God’s great love for us; who suffered pain and understands our suffering when we are in pain; who struggled with human emotions such as sorrow and anger and understands our struggles to move through grief and let go of resentment; who patiently teaches us, prays with us, and eats with us; who died and rose from the dead to give us the hope of eternal life in perfect love and union with God.

Follow the star

Adoration_of_the_Magi_tondo_by_Fra_Angelico_and_Lippi,_detail

Adoration of the Magi (detail)
Fra Angelico and Filippo Lippi, ca.1445

 

 [The magi] were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage.
Matthew 2:10-11

I’d like to follow in the footsteps of the magi, so eager to find the Christ, so overjoyed to find him, so humbled by the experience that they fell to their knees.

God is with us

4_candlesAll this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” Matthew 1:22-23

Whether I’m having an easy day or a hard day, God is with me. Whether I’m feeling peaceful or angry, God is with me. Whether I believe or don’t believe, God is with me.

Let go

3_candlesWhen John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Matthew 11:2-3

I imagine John the Baptist had some moments of stress in prison, wondering what would happen to the work he’d begun. To know that Jesus was busy healing those who were blind, lame, deaf, lepers, or poor opened his eyes to recognize the Christ, and meant he could let go and surrender everything to Jesus.

My own worries – big and small, world-centered and self-centered – take up a lot of time and energy. Maybe this Advent I will have the courage to surrender everything to Jesus.

 

Surrender

sanfrancisco[Jesus] answered, “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified.” Luke 21:9a

I am terrified that I am a mistake, a bother, a nuisance. My inner wars have me doubting my self-worth and wishing I were perfect. I rebel against physical pain, mental fatigue, and getting older. I wage an ongoing battle between gratitude for my many blessings and wanting what I don’t have.

The only answer to war, insurrections, and terror that I have found is complete and unconditional surrender to God’s love. Moment by moment.

 

Trust God’s Mercy

fariseo_y_publicano_byn

Fariseo y publicano
Luke 18:9-14

 

‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ Luke 18:13

God loves me. God made me in love for love. God made me in God’s own image of love and goodness.

And so I dare to approach God in prayer, trusting God will have compassion on me despite my weaknesses and failings, trusting God will teach me a new and better way to be, trusting God’s mercy has the power to transform me in every moment so that I become ever more like God in love and goodness.

Do not lose heart

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Luke 18:1-8

…pray always without becoming weary. Luke 18:1b

God likes to hear from me. I am never a bother to God. Gratitude, grumbles, and pleas for help are all understood by God as my human attempts to communicate with the Mystery who loves me unconditionally and wants all good for me.

Can I trust today that God is near, listening, and ready to respond?

Thank you

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Luke 17:11-19

And one of [the lepers], realizing he had been healed, returned, glorifying God in a loud voice; and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. Luke 17: 15-16

When I express gratitude, I deepen my awareness of others – their gifts, talents, kindness, and humanity. My “thank you” acknowledges our interconnectedness, our interdependence, and our common heritage as precious children of God.

My “thank you” to God is an awareness of God’s love, compassion, and generosity. My “thank you” to God helps me remember to put God in the center of my life.

Thank you, God,  for the many kind people you have put in my path, and thank you for your gentle guidance and all the many gifts you shower on me.

Just a tiny bit of faith

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Luke 17:6

The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” Luke 17:6

Just a tiny bit of faith and I know that God can, God will, and God wants to.

Lord, grant me the grace to accept Thy divine will.