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
JESUS MAFA. Jesus cures the man born blind, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. [retrieved October 25, 2015]
I have been given the grace to know Jesus by name. Let me pass on the gift by knowing you by name, by refusing anonymity to you, my brother or sister in God.
Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” Mark 10:46-47
James Tissot (1836-1902)
Le jeune homme riche s’en alla triste
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum
I enjoy my comforts. A warm home. Running water. Books. An Internet connection. A telephone – two, in fact. A car to drive. Wool sweaters. Plenty and a variety of food to eat.
I’m not quite ready to sell what I have and give to the poor.
But I can share. I can bring goods to the food pantry each week. I can clean out my closet and clear my shelves of items I don’t need and give them to an organization that will use them to help the poor. I can designate some of my monthly income for charitable donations.
Small steps on the way to follow Jesus.
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” Mark 10:21
Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1472-1553
Christ Blessing the Children
oil on panel, 1537
Kraków, Wawel Castle
Today I will let the child in me accept God’s kingdom of peace, love, compassion, and comfort with wonder, delight, joy, and awe.
And with the knowing that I am blessed and welcome.
[Jesus said to them,] “Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” Then he embraced [the children] and blessed them, placing his hands on them. Mark 10:15-16
![Tita Gori (1870-1941) Jésus-Christ entouré de disciples et d'une sainte femme Collection privée By Jean-Marc Pascolo (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tableau_de_Tita_Gori,_J%C3%A9sus-Christ_entour%C3%A9_de_disciples_et_d'une_sainte_femme.jpg)
Tita Gori (1870-1941)
Jésus-Christ entouré de disciples et d’une sainte femme
Collection privée
By Jean-Marc Pascolo (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Jesus is the unifying force of all those who believe in the holy power of his name.
[Jesus replied,] “There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me.”
James Tissot (1836-1902)
Jésus et le petit enfant
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper, between 1886 and 1894
Brooklyn Museum
Imagine the arms of Jesus around me.
Respectful. Comforting. Loving. Gentle. Protective. Reassuring. Encouraging. Peace-giving.
Am I willing to receive each of God’s children in the name of Jesus with respect, comfort, gentleness, protection, reassurance, encouragement, and peace?
Taking a child, [Jesus] placed it in the their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.” Mark 9:36-37
Mary Ann McSweeny 