Daily Retreat 09/19/06
2006 Sep 19 Tue: Ordinary Weekday/ Januarius, bp, mt
1 Cor 12: 12-14. 27-31a/ Ps 99(100): 1b-2. 3. 4. 5/ Lk 7: 11-17
From today’s readings: “As a body is one, though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.... Sing joyfully to the LORD.... Young man, I tell you, arise!”
God Visits His People
At the birth of John the Baptist, his father Zacharias blessed the Lord, the God of Israel, praising Him for having visited His people (cf. Luke 1:68). When Jesus raised the widow’s son in Nain, the people glorified God and exclaimed, “God has visited His people!” And, yet, on Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered Jerusalem, He saw beyond the fickle crowd’s Hosannas, and so lamented the city’s impending destruction, the inevitable consequence for not having recognized the chosen time of visitation (cf. Luke 19:44).
Does God still visit His people? Indeed He does, and in fact, in this life, He always comes to us as a most gracious visitor, since He stays only as long as we continue to welcome Him. Although He has every right to, He refuses to impose Himself on us, or commandeer our hearts for His service.
Do you and I then recognize the time of our own visitation from God? For He comes to us in Word and Sacrament, in His Church, and in the least of His brothers. Yes, He comes directly to the very door of our hearts, occasionally expected, but often enough, His visits come as a bit of a surprise to us.
But if only we resolve to welcome Him with all our heart, one way or another, He will come to visit us today!
1 Cor 12: 12-14. 27-31a/ Ps 99(100): 1b-2. 3. 4. 5/ Lk 7: 11-17
From today’s readings: “As a body is one, though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.... Sing joyfully to the LORD.... Young man, I tell you, arise!”
God Visits His People
At the birth of John the Baptist, his father Zacharias blessed the Lord, the God of Israel, praising Him for having visited His people (cf. Luke 1:68). When Jesus raised the widow’s son in Nain, the people glorified God and exclaimed, “God has visited His people!” And, yet, on Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered Jerusalem, He saw beyond the fickle crowd’s Hosannas, and so lamented the city’s impending destruction, the inevitable consequence for not having recognized the chosen time of visitation (cf. Luke 19:44).
Does God still visit His people? Indeed He does, and in fact, in this life, He always comes to us as a most gracious visitor, since He stays only as long as we continue to welcome Him. Although He has every right to, He refuses to impose Himself on us, or commandeer our hearts for His service.
Do you and I then recognize the time of our own visitation from God? For He comes to us in Word and Sacrament, in His Church, and in the least of His brothers. Yes, He comes directly to the very door of our hearts, occasionally expected, but often enough, His visits come as a bit of a surprise to us.
But if only we resolve to welcome Him with all our heart, one way or another, He will come to visit us today!
posted by FrPitstick | 9/17/2006
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