Monday, December 8, 2008 (No. 39)
If You Knew the Gift of God
Purple is the color of both Advent and Lent for a reason. They are seasons that point us to the beginning and end of Jesus’ earthly life in a focused and deliberate manner. Jesus’ birth points forward to His death, and His death points backward to His birth.
From the Cross, Jesus said, “I thirst.” These words point to a gift, to a deep yearning, an ache if you will, to give, to be in a relationship with you.
Two quotes to illustrate this gift.
First, an excerpt from Mother Teresa’s “Varanasi Letter” (from Mother Teresa’s Secret Fire by Joseph Langford):
Be careful of all that can block that personal being in touch with the living Jesus. The hurts of life, and sometimes your own mistakes—[may] make you feel it is impossible that Jesus really loves you, is really clinging to you. This is a danger for all of you. And so sad, because it is completely opposite of what Jesus is really wanting, waiting to tell you.
Not only He loves you, even more—He longs for you. He misses you when you don’t come close. He thirsts for you. He loves you always, even when you don’t feel worthy. Even if you are not accepted by others, even yourself sometimes—He is the one who always accepts you.
The second, an excerpt from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC):
2560 “If you knew the gift of God!” (Jn 4:10). The wonder of prayer is revealed beside the well where we come seeking water: there, Christ comes to meet every human being. It is he who first seeks us and asks us for a drink. Jesus thirsts; his asking arises from the depths of God’s desire for us. Whether we realize it or not, prayer is the encounter of God’s thirst with ours. God thirsts that we may thirst for him.
And they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” (Matthew 1:23)
Pray always; if necessary use words.
Be aware of your be-with-ness with God.
All is gift.
Our Lady of Mercy, pray for us.
