HE KNOWS OUR HEARTS
"In the world
you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world" (Jn
16:33). Jesus' disciples said, "Now You are talking plainly, and not in
any figure of speech. Now we realize that You know everything and that You do
not need to have anyone question You. Because of this we believe that You came
from God" (Jn 16:30).
How did Jesus
convince His disciples that He was the Son of God? Jesus could read their
hearts like an open book. He answered their questions before they could even
ask them, for He knew their hearts better than they did. And He showed them the
glory of God. For a Christian, believing in God cannot be separated from
believing in Jesus because He Himself is God, the Word made flesh. Even though
they believed, Jesus warned the disciples that their faith would be put to the
test and that they would fail. He spoke plainly about the tragedy of betrayal
and the triumph of the Cross.
During one of our
deacons' retreats a few years ago, Fr. Mergenhagen from the New York Diocese
was our retreat director. He talked to us about the Christ Within. He shared
that God is always loving us, surrounding us, encircling us, filling us with
Divine Love. Right now, I am aware that God is loving me. God loves me despite
the bad I have done and not simply because of the good I have accomplished. God
loves us for who we are - created in His Image and Likeness. We are His
children, and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. God dwells in the human
heart. God Within is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is the ancient teaching
of the Indwelling of the Trinity.
Father also talked
about the boulders in our lives that can get in the way of God's indwelling
presence. It is important to ponder over the question, "Do I know who I
am?" We need to reflect and move into the core of our being, we need to
know who we are. When we come to the knowledge of the Light of Christ within
us, we are able to share it with others in our lives and ministry. Then we can
overcome the ups and downs of life.
While we cannot
avoid all pain and suffering, Jesus, nonetheless, assures us that He will guide
us safely through any difficulty or trial we may have to undergo for His sake.
He calls each of us to take courage, because He has overcome the world. The
Holy Spirit gives us a living hope in the power of the resurrection and a
confident trust in God's presence. The Holy Spirit gives us the strength and
courage we need to overcome adversity and to persevere in faith. As we prayed
in today's Psalm, "Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth" (Ps 68:33a).
The Father of orphans and the Defender of widows is God in His holy dwelling.
It's God Who gives
us a home!