Orienting Our Hearts to Him
Reflecting and praying on today’s scripture, there were many directions my heart was leading me. Is this not the way for so many of us? A variety of directions and choices, which can lead us in so many ways that we are not certain what may be the best path. This is where true discernment can happen. We can pray and truly discern where we are being called and guided to better love and serve our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are given so many options in our world, and yet it seems we cannot choose. The Lord is guiding us to choose to better love and have mercy on those we encounter. He is calling each of us by name and gently guiding out hearts to love and forgiveness.
Over the past few years, we have come to experience the world quite differently. Thankfully, we are in a time where we can still connect with others from all over the world. We have been able to pray with others and feel the struggles of our neighbors locally as well as across the world. We may have experienced more care and compassion from others, but we have also hopefully, been more compassionate and caring to others too.
In the Gospel according to John, we hear that Jesus was troubled because he knew his passion; his time to redeem us all, was coming soon. The savior for all humanity knew he would be betrayed and then handed over to the authorities. Jesus sent Judas forth “and it was night.”(Jn 13:30b) This line has always stood out and resounded with me. Notice it says “it was”, not it is or anything to that effect. Here we have Jesus “the light of the world” preparing to enter into the darkness of our humanity. The darkness of our sinfulness, our selfishness, but the Lord is a Lord of mercy and he will reconcile our shortcomings with the Father.
There is an ancient Homily for Holy Saturday in the Office of Readings, which I quote, and pray on every year. It begins, “Something strange is happening - there is great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness…He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep…he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him victory…He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: ‘Awake, O sleeper, and rise form the dead, and Christ will give you light”(LoH Office of Readings Holy Saturday). This is our calling to awake from the slumber in our hearts and to rise with Christ who redeems us all. I feel like this is why we too are called to reach out to others and allow them to be lifted up into the glorious light, which the Lord opens to us to illuminate our very beings.
Perhaps, many of us are still going in various directions and it is necessary for us to enter the night of this Lent. It is a calling for us to reevaluate our priorities. I find comfort in Isaiah’s words today, during this, our dark time that is leading us to our Calvary. In Isaiah we hear, “Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, yet my reward is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God.” My prayer for each of us is that we are able to embrace one another and know God is guiding us and he is a merciful and loving God who is calling each of us home.
Over the past few years, we have come to experience the world quite differently. Thankfully, we are in a time where we can still connect with others from all over the world. We have been able to pray with others and feel the struggles of our neighbors locally as well as across the world. We may have experienced more care and compassion from others, but we have also hopefully, been more compassionate and caring to others too.
In the Gospel according to John, we hear that Jesus was troubled because he knew his passion; his time to redeem us all, was coming soon. The savior for all humanity knew he would be betrayed and then handed over to the authorities. Jesus sent Judas forth “and it was night.”(Jn 13:30b) This line has always stood out and resounded with me. Notice it says “it was”, not it is or anything to that effect. Here we have Jesus “the light of the world” preparing to enter into the darkness of our humanity. The darkness of our sinfulness, our selfishness, but the Lord is a Lord of mercy and he will reconcile our shortcomings with the Father.
There is an ancient Homily for Holy Saturday in the Office of Readings, which I quote, and pray on every year. It begins, “Something strange is happening - there is great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness…He has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep…he has gone to free from sorrow the captives Adam and Eve, he who is both God and son of Eve. The Lord approached them bearing the cross, the weapon that had won him victory…He took him by the hand and raised him up, saying: ‘Awake, O sleeper, and rise form the dead, and Christ will give you light”(LoH Office of Readings Holy Saturday). This is our calling to awake from the slumber in our hearts and to rise with Christ who redeems us all. I feel like this is why we too are called to reach out to others and allow them to be lifted up into the glorious light, which the Lord opens to us to illuminate our very beings.
Perhaps, many of us are still going in various directions and it is necessary for us to enter the night of this Lent. It is a calling for us to reevaluate our priorities. I find comfort in Isaiah’s words today, during this, our dark time that is leading us to our Calvary. In Isaiah we hear, “Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, yet my reward is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God.” My prayer for each of us is that we are able to embrace one another and know God is guiding us and he is a merciful and loving God who is calling each of us home.
Author: Dcn. Chris Knight, English Department
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