Transform us that we may become

The image of God's only Son

Make us holy, holy

As you are holy.

We’re here……We made it. Our loved ones are safe or else we could not be here. We can now let go of the to do lists, the errands, the carpooling, emails, voicemails, the meal making, and the over scheduled schedules. We can let it all go.

We can give it all to God for one day, for 24 hours and trust that God wants us here to spend some time with him. Let’s relax and enjoy this gift of space and time and hear God’s calling to us. God has chosen each of us to be here this weekend with him. God loves us and knows each of us individually and intimately. His voice has always been there but each of our worlds are busy and noisy and filled with demands.

Listen now to the words of the well-known Henri Nouwen as he speaks of this voice in his book Life of the Beloved. “You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests”. That voice has always been there but I never claimed it as my core truth. I kept running around it in large or small circles, always looking for someone or something able to convince me of my Belovedness. It was as if I kept refusing to hear the voice that speaks from the very depth of my being and says: “Your are my Beloved, on you my favor rests.” That voice has always been there, but it seems that I was much more eager to listen to other louder voices saying: “Prove that your are worth something; do something relevant, spectacular or powerful and then you will earn the love you so desire.”

Meanwhile, the soft gentle voice that speaks in silence and solitude of my heart remained unheard or, at least, unconvincing. That soft gentle voice that calls me the Beloved has come to me in countless ways. My parents, friends, teachers, students and the many strangers who crossed my path have all sounded that voice in different tones. I have been cared for by many people with much tenderness and gentleness. I have been taught and instructed with much patience and perseverance. I have been encouraged to keep going when I was ready to give up and was stimulated to try again when I failed. I have been rewarded and praised for success…….but, somehow, all of these signs of love were not sufficient to convince me that I was the Beloved. Beneath all my seemingly strong self-confidence there remained the question: If all those who shower me with so much attention could see me and know me in my innermost self, would they still love me?

Henri continues, Aren’t you, like me, hoping that some person, thing or event will come along to give you that final feeling of inner well-being you desire? Don’t you often hope: “May this book, idea, course, trip, job, country or relationship fulfill my deepest desire? But as long as you are waiting for that mysterious moment you will go on running helter-skelter, always anxious and restless, always lustful and angry, never fully satisfied. You know that this is the compulsiveness that keeps us going and busy, but at the same time makes us wonder whether we are getting anywhere in the long run. This is the way to spiritual exhaustion and burn-out. This is the way to spiritual death.

Well you and I don’t have to kill ourselves. We are the Beloved. We are intimately loved long before our parents, teachers, spouses, children and friends loved or wounded us. That’s the truth of our lives. That’s the truth I want you to claim for yourself. That’s the truth spoken by the voice that says:

“You are my Beloved.” I have called you by name, from the very beginning. You are mine and I am yours. You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests. I have molded you in the depths of the earth and knitted you together in your mother’s womb. I have carved you in the palms of my hands and hidden you in the shadow of my embrace. I look at you with infinite tenderness - and care for you with a care more intimate than that of a mother for her child. I have counted every hair on your head and guided you at every step. Wherever you go, I go with you, and wherever you rest, I keep watch. I will give you food that will satisfy all your hunger and drink that will quench all your thirst. I will not hide my face from you. You know me as your own as I know you as my own. You belong to me. I am your father, your mother, your brother, your sister, your lover and your spouse….yes, even your child……wherever you are I will be. Nothing will ever separate us. We are one.

So how do we begin to hear that voice….that calling….One way is by reading His Word, the Bible. Let’s begin by reading a passage from Mark 10. This is the scripture selected for you to ponder this weekend. See if it speaks to you…to you personally.

Mark 10: 13-14 ….. And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

What prevents us from letting ourselves come closer to Christ. What pushes us back?. Do we need to forgive ourselves, forgive others who have hurt us in our journey or do we need to ask for forgiveness ourselves. When we ask for that forgiveness do we allow ourselves to be forgiven….do we accept the grace God wants to give us…..do we allow God to heal us…..do we let ourselves draw closer to him.

Mark 10: 14-16…… “Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child ² will not enter it." Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them.”

Do we pursue the kingdom of God like a child? Do we humble ourselves…………do we think like a child who does not think he is better than anyone else. Do we have faith like a child who believes that his parents will take care of him, feed him, clothe him and love him always. Do we trust just like a little child that trusts his parents and believes what they say is true. Do we have the honesty like that of a little child. that honesty that tells it like it is with complete sincerity….Do we have total dependency like children do upon their parents to take care of them….Are we open and receptive like a child who gladly accepts a gift without having done anything in order to get it. And lastly, are we full of wonder and amazement and excitement about learning and about life experiences.

Is this what Jesus is saying to us in this scripture? Can we find a space for Jesus in our hearts right now.

Can we say “yes” to spending some special time alone with him…..to talk to him…………to let him love us…..hug us…………forgive us……………..understand us………….help us ……………..fill us…………grace us…………. Can we spend time with Him letting him know how much we are grateful for all he has given us……grateful for all he has done for us…………..grateful for all the mercy and love he offers us.

He is here now waiting for us in the sacraments, in the rosary, in the Eucharist “The Blessed Sacrament”. He has always been there. It’s our turn to say yes……………. .We are his Beloved…….. .Let’s listen to his voice. Let’s listen to his call………. He’s here in the Eucharist tonight for us to spend time with. He’s here tomorrow in mass, in the rosary, in confession, in our sharing……….Let’s listen to his call…….Have a quiet listening night. We can all share in the morning……