Familiarity with God and Jesus is more than being disciples or friends; it's not a formal, polite, or diplomatic attitude. First, it's entering into and living in Jesus' home, his atmosphere, contemplating, being free. Those who have a familiar relationship with Jesus are free; others, slaves separated from him.
Familiarity with Jesus also means standing with and looking to him, hearing and seeking to do his Word, and speaking with him in prayer. We can pray in common language: “Lord, what do you think?” St. Teresa is beautiful, because she said she found God everywhere, even in the kitchen.
Finally, familiarity means remaining in Jesus' presence, as Andrew and John followed Jesus and “stayed with him all day.” Familiarity is so different from the “goodness” of Christians who stay at a distance from Jesus. Take a step forward in familiarity with the Lord. Speaking with the Lord, or at least knowing he's watching, is familiarity, closeness, feeling part of Jesus' family. Lord, grant that we all understand the meaning of familiarity with you.
Ezr 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20Order of King Darius: “Rebuild the house of God. Pay the workers from tax revenue.” They made progress, then finished. The children of Israel celebrated its dedication with joy, offering bulls, rams, lambs, and he-goats. They set up the priests and Levites for the service of God, as Moses prescribed. The exiles kept the Passover; the Levites sacrificed the Passover for the rest of the exiles, the priests, and themselves.
Ps 122:1-5"Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord." We've set foot within your gates. The tribes of the Lord go up to Jerusalem to give thanks to the Lord.
Lk 8:19-21Jesus' mother and brothers couldn't join him because of the crowd. “Your mother and brothers want to see you.” / “My mother and brothers are those who hear and act on God's word.”
Reflect
Fr. Jim Clarke homily video: Receive and act on God's word; let it open, liberate, and heal you. Be martyred to the world's ways.
Creighton: Holy places are axes between heaven and earth, awakening awareness of God's presence among us; they remind us of where we came from and where we're going! The 1st reading recalls the centrality of the temple. The psalm reflects the exultation the Jews felt visiting the temple. We all have our holy places. “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord!”
One Bread, One Body: "Crowded": Our lives, minds, and schedules are crowded. Demands press in on us. We feel crowded out from Jesus; we feel on the outside looking in. To avoid being crushed, we can obey Jesus, hear his Word, act upon it, and give our lives, minds, and schedules to the Lord. Jesus never gives us more than we have time for. "There's an appointed time for everything." Jesus gives us sufficient strength for what he's called us to. "Come to Me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke and learn from me... Your souls will find rest." Jesus keeps us from the crowd of worldly confusion.
Passionist: Jesus promised intimacy with him if we listen to his word, like Mary did. We must have a passion for listening to God’s word and coming into relationship with Jesus, God's Good News. God's living Word is worth far more than any printed book....
DailyScripture.net: "Hear and do God's word": Jesus pointed to our relationship with God and those who belong to him. Being Christian is being in intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, Love incarnate, author and source of love that nothing can hold back. God created us to be united with him and share in his love. Whoever does God's will is a member of his family. "A Christian's only relatives are the saints" (Lucian of Antioch). Jesus' disciples enter into the family of "saints" here and in heaven. True kinship is not just a matter of flesh and blood. Our adoption as God's children transforms our relationships and requires loyalty to God and his kingdom of justice and peace. May the Spirit transform us to love as God loves us and be faithful, kind, thoughtful, compassionate, merciful, helpful, encouraging, supportive, and strong.
Fr. Chris Bazyouros homily podcast: We're part of God's family because.... We think of God's word too narrowly.... My heart, God's house....
Familiarity with Jesus also means standing with and looking to him, hearing and seeking to do his Word, and speaking with him in prayer. We can pray in common language: “Lord, what do you think?” St. Teresa is beautiful, because she said she found God everywhere, even in the kitchen.
No comments:
Post a Comment