Daily Reflection – 1/25/19
Sacred Scripture
Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18)
Reflection
Ever since the fall of man, the world has been operating upside down! Think about it. What is in common with all empires, dictators, most politicians, and too many demonstrators? If you want to be great then crush. If you want to be feared then you must terrorize. If you want to be respected, then show no mercy. If you want to be first then push and push and push. If you want to be heard then scream! If you want to be superior, then highlight the inferior.
We thought we could build a tower and burst our way into Heaven. We failed. We failed because there was a better way. God wanted His Son to come to us. He did and He conquered. We have to change our ways of doing things. We have to start thinking more like Him and less like ourselves. Our way of doing things will always fail if we start at the top and work our way down. We have to love like he loved. The Lord took delight in the meek and humble of heart. He loved the loser, the diseased and the crippled because he knew they could be so much more.
Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. If you want to be great, then be small. If you want to be served, then serve. If you want to be worshiped, then love. If you want to ascend into Heaven, then descend on earth. If you want to be lifted up, then lower yourself. If you want to be first, then be last. He who humbles himself shall be exulted.
St. Augustine wrote, “The only one who has ascended into heaven is the one who came down from heaven.” That’s it! That’s the secret! You cannot ascend into heaven until you have fallen in love on earth! Let’s turn the world right side up.
Humility is a tough sell. Humiliation is an even tougher sell. But God told us, I will be on your side. Go. Allow the Lord to be with you. Speak the truth that no one wants to hear. Love others like no one really loves. And you will start walking in his footsteps.
Prayer of The Day
Lord, I have been touched by your love. I have heard your command to go out and spread the good news. I ask that you give me the strength of my faith so that I can both love and bring your Gospel to others. Help me always to remember that bringing your word to others is part of your great commission to each of us. us. I resolve to do all I can to bring your Gospel to others. Help me to keep my eyes on you.
Daily Note
“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” – St. Augustine
