Remember that story from Luke 24, when two of Jesus's followers were walking on the road to Emmaus, and they come upon Jesus (the Risen Lord) and they were prevented from recognizing Him? They were walking along the road talking about everything that had happened, come across Jesus, and then when he asks them what they are talking about the disciples tell him all about what happened. Cleopas, one of Jesus' followers tell Jesus that he is the only one in Jerusalem who doesn't know what happened.
I love this story because it reminds me that I too get wrapped up
in the drama of the day and fail to see Jesus right before me? As hard as I try, I know
that I get sucked into the reality of human life today and I am blinded to the truth
that He is still here in the word and in the flesh, revealed in the breaking of
the bread. I sometimes talk of Jesus as though he were a character from a book,
or more intimately as a loved one who has passed away, but in doing so I fail
to internalize the reality that he is still with us in The Eucharist. He is
beside me now on this road and he hears every prayer of my heart.How can we recognize God in the day to day? The answer is intentionality. In my life finding God in the day to day translates into study, community, and service. They are three points on a triangle, three legs of a stool. I need all three in my life.
Study. I can
study the word and delve into the lives of the saints who knew God through a
deep intimacy. I can allow myself to be lead through scripture daily by my Blessedis She sisters or others who have a gift in this area. I tune into workshops online. I carve out prayer time each morning and visit him in Adoration as often as I can. This
is how I get to know my Beloved.
Community. The
men on the road to Emmaus were not traveling solo –they were together. Jesus
ministered to His disciples in a group, not just one-on-one. We are called to
walk to road in community with our brothers and sisters in Christ. My sisters
in Christ challenge my assumptions and my biases, they support me when life
gets overwhelming, and they call me to be a better version of me. Who are your
spiritual sisters walking on the road beside you?
Service. The
actions of our bodies, how we spend our time, and how we serve those in our
lives all provide evidence of the depth of our Love for God. A common phrase
around my house is “you might as well choose to serve with a joyful heart
because you are going to do the work anyway”. We should strive to serve with a
joyful heart, happy to be offering a sacrifice of the self for God.
Do you have a
tendency to get caught up in the daily drama and miss the miracles around you?
How do you find His very real presence before you? How can you feed your soul
today? What resources do you have to help you to better understand your faith?
What physical action can you take today to serve God in love?
