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St. Jerome once said, “Ignorance of Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” Get daily reflections delivered right to your inbox to learn about the life of Christ and the scriptures.
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I don’t know about you, but I cannot count the times I have said, “If only God could send me a clear message about (insert whatever current issue or problem is going on in my life that I need guidance on), then I would know what to do and move forward. It would be so much easier than me trying to figure this out.”
In today’s Gospel we see Him doing just that, informing Zechariah of the plan, all the way down to the name of his son, and yet, he is confused. Maybe this is why we are not sent messengers. We think we want an angel, a burning bush, or a transfiguration to reveal the ‘plan’ to us. But perhaps we would do just as Zechariah did, asking so many questions instead of trusting in the Lord. All was revealed and we see the nervousness of Zechariah. I think that is why God reveals things to us slowly and often in ordinary ways.
Slowly is good. It gives us time to process, to turn the new idea over a bit in our mind, to get fully on board with the plan, with God’s plan. Many times, in life, we think if we knew the outcome, we could get through the pain more easily. I no longer think that would work for me. I have often thought, “Thank God I did not know exactly where this path was leading me; I might have run in the opposite direction.”
God reaches us in ordinary ways. We can hear him through a phone call from a friend, a meaningful Scripture passage we read, or a song on the radio. Our lives are fuller if we see God in all the facets of our lives. Answers rise up in us when we unite our purpose to His and follow God. Part of following God is surrender. Not giving up but giving in to God. He really does know what is best for us.
In a few days, the birth of Jesus will be upon us. John came before Jesus to prepare the way. God calls each of us, in some way, to also prepare the way for Jesus. Whether you are able to see the whole plan or part of it, say yes, surrender to the will of God, and do as He asks without question or complaint. Trust in the One.
No sé lo que te pasa a ti, pero yo no puedo contar las veces que he dicho: “Si Dios pudiera enviarme un mensaje claro sobre (cualquier asunto o problema actual que esté pasando en mi vida sobre el que necesito orientación), entonces sabría qué hacer y seguiría adelante. Sería mucho más fácil que yo tratando de descifrarlo”.
En el Evangelio de hoy vemos a Dios haciendo precisamente eso, informando a Zacarías del plan, hasta el nombre de su hijo, y sin embargo, está confundido. Tal vez por eso no se nos envía mensajeros. Creemos que queremos un ángel, una zarza ardiente o una transfiguración para que nos revele el “plan”. Pero tal vez haríamos lo mismo que Zacarías, haciendo tantas preguntas en lugar de confiar en el Señor. Todo fue revelado y vemos el nerviosismo de Zacarías. Creo que es por eso que Dios nos revela las cosas lentamente y, a menudo, de maneras ordinarias.
Lentamente es bueno. Nos da tiempo para procesar, para darle vueltas a la nueva idea que tenemos en mente, para adentrarnos completamente en el plan, en el plan de Dios. Muchas veces en la vida, pensamos que si supiéramos el resultado, podríamos superar el dolor más fácilmente. Ya no creo que eso funcione para mí. A menudo he pensado: “Gracias a Dios no sabía exactamente a dónde me llevaba este camino; podría haber corrido en la dirección opuesta”.
Dios se nos revela de maneras ordinarias. Podemos escucharlo a través de una llamada telefónica de un amigo, un pasaje significativo de las Escrituras que leemos o una canción en la radio. Nuestras vidas son más plenas si vemos a Dios en todas las facetas de la vida. Las respuestas surgen en nosotros cuando unimos nuestro propósito al suyo y seguimos a Dios. Parte de seguir a Dios es la entrega. No darse por vencido, sino entregarse a Dios. Él realmente sabe lo que es mejor para nosotros.
En unos días, el nacimiento de Jesús estará sobre nosotros. Juan vino antes que Jesús para preparar el camino. Dios llama a cada uno de nosotros, de alguna forma, a preparar el camino para Jesús también. Ya sea que puedas ver el plan completo o solo una parte de él, di que sí, entrégate a la voluntad de Dios y haz lo que te pide sin preguntas ni quejas. Confía en Dios.
Deanna G. Bartalini, M.Ed.; M.P.A., is a certified spiritual director, writer, speaker and content creator. The LiveNotLukewarm.com online community is a place to inform, engage and inspire your Catholic faith. Her weekly Not Lukewarm Podcast gives you tips and tools to live out your faith in your daily life.
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