Liz Lemon Swindle's painting above, is one of my favorites. I like to picture myself right in back of Him, following Him wherever He wishes me to be. Today's first reading tells us that people "might seek God, even perhaps grope for him and find him, though indeed, he is not far from any one of us." (Acts 17:15, 22-18:1)
Reading this the day before we commemorate Jesus' Ascension into heaven is very significant for me. I often pray on Ascension Thursday of the heartfelt anguish the disciples must have felt as he left them. I know how I feel when a good friend moves away or even dies. It brings great sadness.
To realize that Jesus is not far from any one of us is a great consolation. Wherever I am in my life right now, He is close by. That is assuring. That is life-giving. That helps me in my efforts to follow him.
Sometimes I seek Him and even grope for Him. That is the way faith is. One believes even when one does not feel or know His actual presence. I always find Him and thanks to Luke's writing of the Acts of the Apostles, I am reminded of why. He is always near, always ready to help me.
Reading this the day before we commemorate Jesus' Ascension into heaven is very significant for me. I often pray on Ascension Thursday of the heartfelt anguish the disciples must have felt as he left them. I know how I feel when a good friend moves away or even dies. It brings great sadness.
To realize that Jesus is not far from any one of us is a great consolation. Wherever I am in my life right now, He is close by. That is assuring. That is life-giving. That helps me in my efforts to follow him.
Sometimes I seek Him and even grope for Him. That is the way faith is. One believes even when one does not feel or know His actual presence. I always find Him and thanks to Luke's writing of the Acts of the Apostles, I am reminded of why. He is always near, always ready to help me.