Simple of heart

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Simple of heart

Sunday, December 27, 2015

On the Third Day of Christmas

Colossians 3:12-15

Brothers and sisters, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience … Over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

Near midnight on Christmas Eve, Pope Francis spoke with his quiet voice; his words were barely audible. But what words!

Tonight a great light shines forth … and everything changes. The Savior of the world comes to partake of our human nature; no longer are we alone and forsaken … Tonight we have been shown the way to reach the journey’s end. We must not stand idle; we must set out.

The idea is not simple; the way is not easy. There is nothing easy or comfortable or leisurely about this journey. As for me, I overthink it all the time, partly to avoid the process of putting one foot in front of another.

In a world which all too often is merciless to the sinner and lenient to the sin, we need to cultivate a strong sense of justice, to discern and do God’s will. Amid a culture of indifference which not infrequently turns ruthless, our style of life should instead be devout, filled with empathy, compassion and mercy, drawn daily from the wellspring of prayer.

This wellspring brings peace through simplicity. My overthinking stops. I notice the deepest parts of my body relaxing. My mind clears; can it be? The overlapping, blurry, repetitive, helplessly meaningless thoughts just fade out and are gone. And then … I am just listening.

Let us be silent and let the Child speak. Let us take his words to heart in rapt contemplation of his face. If we take him in our arms and let ourselves be embraced by him, he will bring us unending peace of heart … From now on, the way of authentic liberation and perennial redemption is open to every man and woman who is simple of heart.

O Jesus, held in your mother’s arms warm and new, your face radiates the goodness, mercy and love of your Father, and you long for me to look on your face and feel what you feel, begin this task of the simple heart, this lifelong task of joy: to be made known and finally to know our Father as you know Him. Bring me that life today.

http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1423