Daily Reflection for Thursday, May 28, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Thursday’s readings at this link: Click Here
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11
Responsorial: Psalm 16:1-2A and 5; 7-11
Gospel: John 17: 20-26
Our reflection on Thursday’s readings:
“Father, they are your gift to me.” John 17: 24
When I read the Gospel passage today, this verse jumped off the page at me. Sometimes I struggle to find a message that speaks to me, but not this time. I read and re-read the Acts of the Apostles and the lyrical Psalm to make sure I wasn’t missing anything, but I kept getting drawn back to this simple, short phrase from the lips of our Lord.
In this passage, Jesus is praying to the Father right before his arrest and crucifixion. I have always thought about my relationship with Jesus from the other way around. God gave Jesus to us. He sacrificed his only begotten son so that we might have everlasting life. Jesus was the gift. I certainly wasn’t a gift.
What kind of gift was I? At best, I’m a gag gift—the white elephant kind you stash away until you can give it to a friend and enjoy a good laugh. At worst, I am the kind of gift that causes the recipient grief and heartache. I am a sinner who too often fails to show his appreciation to God for all of the amazing blessings that I have been fortunate enough to receive. I am a sinner who too often does not love his neighbor as God has called me. I am a sinner who caused Christ to suffer on the cross. I am not a gift.
And yet, Jesus sees each and every one of us as a gift from the Father, something to cherish and nurture. He wants to bring us to salvation despite our flaws and imperfections. That is such a profound expression of Christ’s love for us that it leaves me dumbfounded. Today rejoice in the fact that Jesus sees you as a child sees a shiny package on Christmas morning or as a parent holding their newborn child…a gift. Today, strive to be a gift that gives joy to our Lord!
Peace and blessings!
Pete Kuester