Catholic Faith Space
|
|
|
There are a lot of different names for Jesus and many different ways we can picture him. Good Shepherd is one of my favorite titles for who Jesus is. Just as a shepherd gathers his sheep and protects them, Jesus gathers us up as his flock and protects us. He calls out to us as shepherds call out to their sheep. “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). When we hear Jesus, do we recognize him and follow him? Do we allow him to guide us?
The world is loud and filled with many different voices. We can be pulled into many different directions from the people around us, social media, and anyone or anything else we interact with on a daily basis. It may be easy to be tempted to do whatever everyone else is doing or believe what everyone else believes. However, this is not the way of Jesus, the Good Shepherd. He calls us to more. He allows us “to have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). When we abandon the ways of the world and choose to instead follow him, our lives will be filled with greater faith and love than we could ever imagine. Without Jesus as our shepherd, we are just a bunch of lost sheep. We may think we know everything or believe that we can do it on our own. When we fall into these mindsets, we get distracted and wander off the path to the gate. Jesus knows each and every one of us on a deep, personal level. The fact that thousands of other people choose to follow him does not matter. He wants you and me to follow him too because he loves each one of us individually. There is no one who knows us better or loves us more than Jesus. Why would we not listen to and follow the one who knows us best and loves us most? Let him protect you, guide you, and love you. You are a part of his flock. A sheep without a shepherd is lost. In the same way, a person without Christ is lost. Don’t be a lost sheep. Be a sheep who hears the Good Shepherd and trusts that following Him is the best thing you could ever do.
0 Comments
Reading through the Gospel for today (Monday 4/19), there is one part that stands out to me. “Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” (John 6:26-27). The crowd of people went looking for Jesus because they were fed by the loaves of bread and knew He could fulfill their physical hunger. They were concerned with the temporary. This scripture passage is a good opportunity to reflect on the hunger in our lives.
Throughout the seemingly ordinary days of our lives, we go to work so that we can provide earthly necessities such as food, clothing, housing, and other expenses we have and comforts we want to be able to enjoy. These things allow us to fulfill our physical hunger and maintain our overall health and wellbeing. What about our spiritual health? Are we working for eternal life and allowing Jesus to satisfy the hunger that only He can? We can eat all the food that we want until the point of being stuffed full. We can buy all the material items we could ever want. We can make all the money in the world. After we fill up on these things, we will still be empty unless we seek Jesus and the truth of who He is. When we experience hunger for things that can satisfy the body, we are able to easily meet that need by making a meal or going to the grocery store. When it comes to satisfying our hearts and souls, the deepest parts of ourselves, we cannot do this on our own. It is God alone who fulfills this spiritual hunger we have- the hunger for love and truth. Jesus offers us everything we need to have life within us. When we go to Him, the deepest longing and hunger in our hearts are satisfied. He nourishes and strengthens us in a way that nothing else can. While we are filled by the food of this world temporarily, the food that He offers endures forever. May every person come to know that Jesus is the bread of life that will sustain us always. On Friday I was writing a talk that I had to give at a retreat the next day. I was asked to give a reflection for Saturday’s retreat back in February. Why did I wait until the last minute to write the talk? There is no real reason I can think of besides the busyness of daily life (and procrastination.) It is exactly this reason that retreats are so important. I believe that all Catholics should take time to attend retreats. They are the perfect way to get away from hectic and often full schedules to rest, be inspired, discuss our faith with others, and find peace.
Retreats are often experiences that we do not really realize how much we need until we are there in the middle of them or once they are over. It had been over a year since the last retreat I had been on. Being able to go to the TEC Rejoice retreat was a true gift. Being able to be in the presence of other Catholics, discussing faith, hearing reflections, praying together, and escaping the world, even if only for a day, was a time of refreshment and a time to recharge. This is what we all need, especially now more than ever. I believe retreats are vital for our spiritual health and faith. They are a time of nourishment and a way to dive deeper into our relationship with Jesus. Scripture often talks about the importance of rest. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Retreats are an opportunity to just be in the presence of Jesus and let Him refresh your soul. Unlike the expectations the world places on us in our daily lives, being at retreats, there are no real expectations but to just be still and rest. Through dedicated time for prayer, reflection, and small-group discussions, we can more clearly hear God. Of course, we can encounter Christ outside of retreats. However, we are called to set aside time for prayer and contemplation so we can be renewed and strengthened. Even Jesus took time to step away from the world at times. In addition, retreats provide an opportunity to build community with others who care about their faith. Finding time to be around people who share our faith is so important. We need a faith community to pray with and for us, and encourage and help us along the way. It is these relationships that are centered on Christ that are life-changing. The graces that come from retreats are countless. For many Catholics, their retreat participation starts and ends with their Confirmation retreat. While we cannot force people to go on a retreat, we can be persistent in inviting others. We can help people seek out different opportunities. My prayer is that all Catholics would open up their hearts and consider attending a retreat. If you are reading this, know that God has so much to offer you and going on a retreat might just be exactly what you need to receive what He wants to give you. “What joy we have, For the stone is rolled away And the tomb holds nothing now. No sting of death, No power over sin or grave...” As Christians, this is what Easter is about! Nothing can keep us from the joy of Jesus’ resurrection and nothing can steal that joy away. The amazing thing about this joy is that it is not just reserved for one day of the year. The joy that we experience Easter Sunday is the joy that we should be sharing every day with all those around us.
Having joy is something that is transformative. Encountering the risen Christ changes us. The same power that rose Jesus from the dead can work in us. His resurrection does not change the fact that we will face losses and challenges along the way. However, the resurrection gives us hope which inspires us to live in pursuit of heaven, joyfully proclaiming that Jesus has defeated death. Evil and sin do not win. Real joy is something that can only come from Jesus. If it came from anywhere else, the world would be able to strip it away. At times, we can be tempted to let the darkness of the world bring us down. There is a lot we can become weighed down by. When this happens, we need to refocus. Clinging to the hope that the resurrection brings allows us to be overflowing with joy. When we have this joy, we have a deep desire to share Jesus and His love with others. Looking to the victory of Jesus and all that He overcame, how could we not have joy? The joy we have is not superficial or shallow. It comes only from having deep faith in Christ and allowing Him into our lives. Take some time to reflect on the reality of the resurrection. See the power and glory, and carry the joy with you wherever you go! |
AuthorStriving to share hope, joy, God's love, and all of the good stuff, one blog post at a time. Categories |
RSS Feed