Daily Reflection – 5/17/10
Sacred Scripture
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.” Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”(John 14:1-6)
Reflection
The night before His crucifixion Jesus slowly stripped away the veneer of a utopia from his most trusted disciples. In its place He gave them a greater revelation of Himself.
He did not suggest in any way that we would reach a spiritual plateau in which all trouble would disappear and we would live the rest of our lives in perfect serenity and peace. Jesus never suggested that if we followed Him, we would never again experience trouble, disappointment or trials. A little later that night He said just the opposite. “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world”
Jesus did not promise them their troubles were going away. He told them He would be with them in the midst of their troubles. He would be their stabilizing force and strength. He did not tell them some make-believe philosophy that their pain, suffering, evil and sin didn’t exist.
Stop for a moment. What is flooding your troubled heart today? What does Jesus see going on in His presence right now? The hurt of those disciples that night was no different from the hurts you experience today. Jesus was telling those disciples to give Him those “troubles” that were boiling over and flooding their hearts. His death was no make-believe; it was real. They felt the trauma of it before them. Jesus recognized what they were experiencing and gave them comfort.
A little later Jesus will say, “He that has seen Me has seen the Father” The force of this statement was: Have you never yet understood who I am?
Jesus reveals to us that our life has a supernatural dimension. We cannot reduce it to something mundane and passing. We cannot afford to get lost in the current of the world. It is not enough that we accumulate more of what this earth can offer. If our striving on this earth is only to make our life here more and more comfortable, we have lost my way!
Whatever we do we must always be conscious of not losing sight of our goal. Our goal is our Father’s house. Once we reach our destination, we will find true happiness. It is then that every longing, every effort and pursuit of our lives here will find its fulfillment. As with Jesus, the Father’s House is where we come from and where we must go to. Whatever we decide, wherever we go, whomever we talk to, every moment, every event and every deed and desire of our lives should be such that we are on this path that leads to the Father. Anything that side tracks us can have no place in our life. Keeping to this way should be our goal at every moment.
Prayer of The Day
Lord I come to offer my life to You. I come from You. It is to You that I go. When I am united with You, my heart finds its peace – for I know my life is secure. I seek no lasting city in this world. Here I am a pilgrim! In this passing world with its deceptive offers, You O Lord, are my only true refuge and wealth.
Daily Note
Life is difficult. But Jesus has gone ahead of us to show the way and to be the way for us. With Him my life acquires a very clear direction and a sure goal.
This is profound and beautifully written. Thank–you.
Thank you. Whatever creativity I may have is His gift. I simply try to it wisely.