Daily Meditation - Tuesday 15April 2008 - 4th Week Easter - DONT BE AFRAID TO ASK

[BarbaraTherese]

Readings
usccb.org/nab/041508.shtml

Meditation
wau.org/meditations/meditations.asp?month=4&day=15&year=2008&x=10&y=3

John 10:22-30

How odd! The Jews asked if Jesus was the Christ, and he went on to talk about his sheep having eternal life and never perishing; then about no one being able to take them out of his or his Father’s hand; and then ending with the declaration that “the Father and I are one!” And yet, it was not really so peculiar, because Jesus understood that they had the concept of Messiah wrong.

He wanted to move them beyond their faulty interpretations and assumptions into a clearer understanding of himself and his mission.

The Jews really did want to know if Jesus was the Messiah. But they couldn’t reconcile what they’d heard him say and seen him do with what they thought the Messiah was supposed to say and do. So they demanded, “Tell us plainly” (John 10:24). They weren’t overly polite or humble about it, and apparently this wasn’t the first time they’d asked. Still, Jesus answered them again. He remained patient, always willing to reveal himself to his brothers and sisters—and to us.

• Who do you expect the Christ to be?
• Have you ever asked him?
• Go ahead and ask again!
• God is incredibly eager to reveal himself, and he never tires of telling us about himself.
• He wants to have a relationship with you; he wants you to ask him about himself.
• He is wonderfully gracious (and patient), and is not offended or put off by any misconceptions we might have.
• Imagine him in heaven, smiling—maybe even chuckling—over our misperceptions.
• He loves clearing them up. He loves seeing the light dawn in our minds and hearts!
  Don’t be afraid to tell the Lord when you don’t understand something. He loves to teach. He loves to talk to us. When the Jews asked Jesus if he was the Messiah, Jesus spoke passionately and at length, not because they were so very wrong but because he was so very eager to re-form and expand their ideas of who he is.

So too, allow Jesus to correct you about who he is. Sit quietly and start the conversation. Then you’ll find out how eager he is to reveal himself!

“Gracious Jesus, I want to know you.

I want to know what it means that you are the Christ,
the Son of the living God.
Teach me today, so that I can share your good news with the people around me.”

 

[bwhite06517]

IS THIS YOU???

From Acts 11: 19-26 - we have this excerpt:

The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged

them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart, for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.

“For he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith” Is that you?

Are you the kind of person that people would say that about you? If so, great - and if not - how can you become such a person?

Barnabas was also known as “the encourager” - do you encourage people to remain faithful? Are you a good witness to the love of Jesus Christ in your life?

Heavenly Father, help us to be like Barnabas, to be an encourager and to be good people, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith!!! Amen