Daily reflection _ seeing how things are supposed to be

SEEING HOW THINGS ARE
SUPPOSED TO BE
"We must in all things seek God. But we do not seek Him the way we seek a lost object, a 'thing.' He is present to us in our heart, in our personal subjectivity, and to seek Him is to recognize this fact. (Thomas Merton)
Deacon John Ruscheinsky
Taking a path from planning, to the reality of life, can be difficult and can sometimes goes off in unexpected directions. That's especially true when people insist something has to be true because that's the way they want it or can't imagine anything different. Jesus found Himself in this situation when people were arguing about whether He fit the description of who they thought He was. Jesus and His message caused division for many in Israel. Some believed He was a prophet, some the Messiah and some believed He was neither. All this discussion blinded them from the reality of Who He actually is and believing in Him.
In our lives, there comes a time when we have to take a stand for Jesus Christ and for the Gospel. Taking a stand for Jesus is not about popularity and, oftentimes, it entails hardships and sacrifices. What is most important about all this, however, is that we choose to live a Godly life. Our lives should be fueled by the example of God's selfless love of others, to be loyal to His wise ways and standards, and to be servants of Jesus.
Thomas Merton can help us ponder this today: "We must in all things seek God. But we do not seek Him the way we seek a lost object, a 'thing.' He is present to us in our heart, in our personal subjectivity, and to seek Him is to recognize this fact. Yet we cannot be aware of it as a reality unless He reveals His presence to us. He does not reveal Himself simply in our own heart. He reveals Himself to us in the Church, in the community of believers, in the koinonia of those who trust Him and love Him" (Seasons of Celebration, p. 223).
We join our prayers to those of the Psalmist, "O searcher of heart and soul, O just God" (Ps 7:10). Our challenge, today, is to try and get past always seeing things as they are supposed to be, and view them as they really are. Who is Jesus Christ for you?