The Personal God
When I was still at home living with my mother, she used to “personalize” all my things. She would sew my name on my personal belongings: T-shirts, towels, handkerchiefs. She does the same to my brother and sisters. I guess she does it to avoid confusion and “fighting” among us siblings. But more than that, she does that as an intimate expression of her love. With her own hands, she would personally sew our names on everything dear to us.
It is so comforting that the readings for today echo the same image. In today’s First Reading, God, through the prophet Isaiah, reveals Himself as a personal God. He likewise expresses His love in a very “personalized” way. He does not only sew our names on towels, shirts and handkerchiefs. He “carves” it on the palm of His hand (cf Isaiah 49:16). This was how Yahweh describes His covenant with His beloved Israel.
Our God is a personal God. He wants to relate to us in a very personal way. Let us return the favor. Let us not confine our religion to cold, unfeeling and monotonous following of religious rules and norms. God deserves more than a decade of rosaries, a series of novenas and an occasional Way of the Cross.
More than our rituals, God is more interested in our hearts. When you receive the Lord in the Eucharist today, talk to Him with your heart. Remember, He is a God who has our names “carved in the palm of His hands.” Fr. Joel Jason
REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How is your relationship with God? Have you felt His personalized love for you? Have you given Him your personalized love as well?
Lord Jesus, fill me with Your love. I won’t last in this world without Your unconditional love for me.
No comments:
Post a Comment