For all of today’s readings: Click on today’s date at http://www.usccb.org/bible/
Savior in Syria
Monday, January 4, 2016
On the Eleventh Day of Christmas
1 John 4:4
You belong to God, children, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
At the Imax theater the film trailers before Star Wars consisted mostly of creatures – caricatures of humanity either evil or heroic. Big teeth, wild hair, eyes that were rarely deep. None of these are greater than the one who is in the world.
Jesus, on the other hand, walked among us, the most oppressed of us. “His fame spread to all of Syria. They brought him all who were sick with various diseases and racked with pain, those who were possessed, lunatics, and paralytics, and he cured them” (Matthew 4).
Before Jesus left he told his disciples, “I will not leave you as orphans … the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things … Now the prince of this world is coming (John 13-14)”.
Can’t I walk as Jesus did, discovering the poverty and pain in my life and those around me? I don’t need to avoid any of this. This is where the Holy Spirit leads us all, one way or another, as we live our days on earth.
Philip Britts wrote, “God’s love overwhelms us and breaks into our lives leaving our human good will behind. It was never Christ’s purpose to bring about self-improvement. He became poor not to offer us a moral toning up, however good this may be. The Word became flesh so that the same amazing life that broke into the world when Jesus Christ was born actually becomes realized in our own lives here and now.
“This love alone revolutionizes our lives. Only God’s love, not the elevation of human souls, can effect a transformation of the world. Those who mourn the futility of their own efforts receive the comfort of the love of God.”
When you walk among us, and touch us, and heal us, Lord, we are called to follow you. Let me take one step after another, without thinking so much about what will happen next. That’s when we come alive. That’s what we’re here for. That’s how we’re made. Thank you, Jesus.
http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1431
