Daily Reflection for Thursday January 07,2021
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Thursday's readings at this link:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010721.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: 1 John 4:19–5:4
Responsorial: Psalm 72:1-2, 14 and 15bc, 17
Gospel: Luke 4:14-22
Our reflection on Thursday’s readings:
Beloved, we love God because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)
There is a wisdom saying by Lao Tzu that I am leaning into as I start 2021. “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. When the student is truly ready, the teacher will disappear.” I read the readings today as an invitation to move deeper in love with the Divine. I am definitely still a student. However, through all of my life’s bumps and bruises, I don’t think I can categorize myself as a beginner anymore. I have so much to learn about God’s love, and I have learned much along the way. As I continue on this learning journey, one insight that I am understanding more is that suffering will be a companion along the journey.
I find myself these days in a liminal space, an in-between space, filled with mystery. Discerning direction and purpose, I wait wanting to just rest in hope and trust for the direction and purpose to unfold. Yet, I know this is not how the mystery reveals itself. While rest and hope are important, I know that a participation element is important in this waiting time as well. I find myself wanting to participate as a student, ready for the teacher to appear, ready to listen, to pay attention, and to trust in the lessons and wisdom of the divine teacher.
The great Teacher unfolds a great lesson for me today. In the first reading, John writes, “Beloved, we love God because he first loved us.” This wisdom lesson puts me on a path to know and recognize this first love. John also gives me insight to how to understand this first love by loving my sister and brother. The Teacher and students have showed up today. I will spend the day examining how I love my neighbor, how I failed to do this, and how to not get stuck along the way but to always move forward. I have much to learn in this area, yet I know by mastering this, it will only move me closer to recognize the source of all love.
May you be ready for the lesson and the Teacher presenting it today,
Margarita Solis Deal