Today I will put my attention boat a little distance from the shore of everyday tasks, obligations, and responsibilities, and invite Jesus to sit down with me. I will ask him to teach me his way and I will listen to his word.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, [Jesus] asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. Luke 5:3
James Tissot (1836-1902)
Jésus dans la synagogue déroule le livre
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum
We, too, have been anointed by God’s Spirit to bring glad tidings to the poor. We bring food to those who are hungry. We bring compassion to those who are grieving. We bring encouragement to those who have low self-esteem. We bring comfort to those who are ill.
Wherever we go, we bring the gift of ourselves, the glad tidings of our loving presence, our hope in the Lord, our willingness to be guided by the Lord as trusted servants.
[Jesus] stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor. Luke 4:16b-18a
John Flaxman (1755-1826)
The Adoration of the Magi
Graphite with gray wash and watercolor on medium, slightly textured, cream wove paper
Yale Center for British Art
Today I will pay homage to the Lord by honoring his call to love my neighbor and forgive my enemies, by searching for his Holy Spirit in each person I encounter, and by making good use of my gifts and talents in his service.
[The magi] prostrated themselves and did [Jesus] homage. Matthew 2:11
Vasily Polenov (1844-1927)
Christ Among Teachers, 1896
Moscow, Tretyakov Gallery
Listen to the Word. Sit with holy Scripture. You will be astounded to find the understanding you crave, the answers you seek.
After three days they found [Jesus] in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. Luke 2:46-47
A nanosecond of silence. The compassion of strangers. The comfort of family and friends. The difficulty of pain, illness, or stress.
In unexpected moments of grace, we are made aware of the presence of the Lord and our hearts leap with joy.
[Elizabeth said,] “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” Luke 1:43
Pieter Brueghel the Elder (1526/1530–1569)
The Sermon of St John the Baptist
oil on oak, 1566
Budapest, Museum of Fine Arts
How many coats do I have? Jackets? Sweaters? What if I were to give one away to someone who has none.
How many cans, bottles, boxes, packages of food are in my cupboards? What if I were to give some away to the hungry.
God’s prophets point us to the Way of generous awareness of the needs of others.
[John the Baptist said to them,] “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Luke 3:11
Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov (1806-1858)
Head of St. John the Baptist
oil on paper mounted on canvas, 1837-1857
Tretyakov Gallery
At any point in our temporal history, the Word of God may come to us and lead us to become prophetic witnesses to the presence of God in our midst.
The Word of God may call us to speak out against prejudice, greed, and violence, and point the way to acceptance, generosity, and peace.
The Word of God may show us how to let go of resentment, self-centeredness, and arrogance, and teach us the way of forgiveness, service to those in need, and humble awareness of our dependence on God.
The Word of God may clarify our purpose in life: to love God, ourselves, and our neighbors, to bring comfort to the afflicted, to use our gifts and talents in the service of God’s whole human family.
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar… during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert. Luke 3:1, 2
Ford Madox Brown (1821-1893)
Jesus Washing Peter’s Feet
oil on canvas, 1852-1856
Tate
In every moment, the voice of our king reminds us to love, forgive, reconcile, and help the poor, sick, and elderly, the widows, children, and foreigners.
The voice of our king calls us to remember who we are: members of one human family, each unique, each with gifts to share, each beloved of God.
The voice of our king tells us how to serve as he served: with humility, compassion, nonviolence, and love without end.
[Jesus answered,] “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” John 18:37
“Learn a lesson from the fig tree.
When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.” Mark 13:28
Love is timeless, without end, forever. Love will not pass away.
Love is the solution to the violence, hatred, greed, and contempt for human life that continue to shock our world.
Love is forgiveness. Love is humility. Love is compassion. Love is admitting when I am wrong. Love is kindness. Love is respect. Love is letting go of resentment. Love is comforting the grieving. Love is helping those who are suffering. Love is putting aside my needs for the moment and listening to you in your moment of need.
The Word is Love.
[Jesus said to his disciples:] “Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.” Mark 13:31
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Gary might not have been a saint, but he was most assuredly a prophet. He vigorously and decisively pointed the way to more dignified and respectful treatment of those under a doctor’s care, those living in nursing homes, those with terminal illnesses.
I mourn the passing of his forthright energy from our world so in need of advocates for the vulnerable, but not the passing of his Spirit from a body that could no longer contain it.
[Jesus began to teach them, saying,] “Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
Mary Ann McSweeny 