05/28 Daily Reflection :
The Lord takes delight in his people
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
They came to Jerusalem,
and on entering the temple area
he began to drive out those selling and buying there.
He overturned the tables of the money changers
and the seats of those who were selling doves.
He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area.
Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written:
My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples?
But you have made it a den of thieves.”
Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God.
Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,
‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’
and does not doubt in his heart
but believes that what he says will happen,
it shall be done for him.
Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer,
believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.
When you stand to pray,
forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance,
so that your heavenly Father may in turn
forgive you your transgressions.”
In today’s reading we are called to proclaim the goodness of God…. to sing and dance for joy; to take delight in the Lord because the Lord delights in us. We also see Jesus rebukes the people who are selling in the temple area in Jerusalem, in the sacred spaces of Jerusalem….where the sacred space is to be a place of prayer, vs. a den of thieves… Jesus reminds the people to have faith in God ~ that whatever you ask for in prayer, and believe…. will be yours…. at the same time, you are to forgive those who you have an issue or grievance with…. so that the father may also forgive you for anything you have done. Remember our God is a forgiving God.
Challenge: Where are you lacking faith, and what is it you are truly wanting … what are the deepest desires of your heart? Believe that those good, deep desires are already yours… have faith they are yours… at the same time, forgive… forgive anything you have against someone else…. so that God can also forgive you - and help your deepest desires to come to fulfillment. Take steps forward in the direction of the good dreams and desires God has placed in and on your heart.
For deeper reflection see the following piece of artwork and listen to the following music:
Remember God’s Miracles
https://youtu.be/pV6-QqitjOc and https://youtu.be/mlz0nj1qPkk
For My Father and all the hikes we have gone on, all the campfires we have set by, the smores we have eaten, and the spirit fully alive under the lean-to … despite the storms… may your and all of our readers spirit have the afterglow as well: https://youtu.be/_NGQfFCFUn4
(artwork available for purchase in our Running Collection ~ HERE
