Daily reflection _ He knows our hearts

HE KNOWS OUR HEARTS
God is always loving us, surrounding us, encircling us, filling us with Divine Love.  
Deacon John Ruscheinsky
"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!