"Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them . . . " Luke 11:15-26
God, plain and simple, knows our thoughts. Ouch! You mean, my angry thoughts, my judgmental thoughts, my jealous thoughts, my negative thoughts? Yes, but also my loving and forgiving thoughts, my thoughtful prayers offered throughout the day, the prayer I offer in my mind when I wake up in the middle of the night and think of someone for whom I had promised to pray. In short, God knows me through and through and loves me just the same. I need not be afraid.
Isn't that what he said over and over to his followers after his resurrection? "Be not afraid!" "Peace I give to you!" "Know that I am with you until the end of time?"
When someone knows me so well that he or she can finish my sentence before I even voice it, it is a compliment to our relationship. We are pretty close friends, with a trust level that is important and comforting. Such a friend can challenge me too, because he or she knows that deep in my heart, I want to live as a faithful disciple.
I want my relationship with Christ to be just as intimate as my relationship with my best friend. It is as simple as that.
Christ lives and is with me at all times. The only fear I have is letting myself forget this truth. He will help guide my thoughts, words and deeds and he will help me respond to graces of conversion when I need some spiritual remedial help.
It is healing to know this. My response of "Ouch!" is turned into "Thank you!"
But he knew their thoughts and said to them . . . " Luke 11:15-26
God, plain and simple, knows our thoughts. Ouch! You mean, my angry thoughts, my judgmental thoughts, my jealous thoughts, my negative thoughts? Yes, but also my loving and forgiving thoughts, my thoughtful prayers offered throughout the day, the prayer I offer in my mind when I wake up in the middle of the night and think of someone for whom I had promised to pray. In short, God knows me through and through and loves me just the same. I need not be afraid.
Isn't that what he said over and over to his followers after his resurrection? "Be not afraid!" "Peace I give to you!" "Know that I am with you until the end of time?"
When someone knows me so well that he or she can finish my sentence before I even voice it, it is a compliment to our relationship. We are pretty close friends, with a trust level that is important and comforting. Such a friend can challenge me too, because he or she knows that deep in my heart, I want to live as a faithful disciple.
I want my relationship with Christ to be just as intimate as my relationship with my best friend. It is as simple as that.
Christ lives and is with me at all times. The only fear I have is letting myself forget this truth. He will help guide my thoughts, words and deeds and he will help me respond to graces of conversion when I need some spiritual remedial help.
It is healing to know this. My response of "Ouch!" is turned into "Thank you!"
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