+ Our gospel today is about making the most out of a visit from
Jesus, when he decides to
come to call. The operative phrase here is “when he decides to come!”
These are not the planned out times when we almost demand to see him, or summon
him, or at least strongly request his presence, or even gently so! These are
the moments when he himself takes the
initiative to visit us, when he
thinks we need it – imagine that – and
has something important to tell us.
These encounters can be very
brief, indeed, or lengthier. Sometimes when we are just standing in line at the
grocery store, or stopped at a red light, or gazing out the window at home, or
any number of other things: all of a sudden we get the real impression that Jesus is there and he wants our attention
for as long as it takes – but usually it will be only one brief shining
moment. He will offer us a bit of insight, a bit of consolation, a bit of
courage, a bit of knowledge, a bit of healing, a bit of forgiveness, a bit of
cheer – so that we can go on our way a little more focused, hopeful and with
something valuable to share with others.
Now if these times can indeed
be lengthened into a few minutes, or even half-hours or hours – like Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus – we
will have an even more complete and deeper experience of Jesus’ friendship and
hear more clearly what he has to say to us, and we will have a longer time to
share with him what we have to say.
In the first reading today the
three strangers came to Abraham and he gave them hospitality because he felt
God moving him to do so, he felt God encountering him and instructing him as to
what to say to them, and what to do for them: provide them with a rather lavish
meal, before they could pass by him. And he was rewarded with a very direct
message from God which told him that within
a year he would have a son by his wife Sarah, his promised son, Isaac. Our
encounters with God can be productive as well, in ways both great and small.
It was to Paul, we see in the
second reading, that the very mysteries
of God were revealed in his prayer encounters and that they were meant to
be given to all, Jews and Gentiles as a hope for overcoming suffering and
oppression.
May we be encouraged by the
initiatives that God takes in trying to get in touch with us – when he
wants to – and let us respond by giving him our immediate attention -
listening and then acting with all
charity as we look out for the needs of all our brothers and sisters in
imitation of him!
Blessed
are those who keep the word of God with a generous heart, and yield a harvest
through perseverance.
No comments:
Post a Comment