Seems like Jesus was always available to folks. Even if they were busy, preoccupied or disliked, he simply said he was coming over to visit and have a chat (as was the story with Zacchaeus, the short tax collector who had to climb a tree to see where Jesus was in the crowd because he wanted to tell Jesus he was selling his goods and giving half of it to the poor, and anyone he had cheated, he was going to pay back...it was an "epiphany" moment, I think, for Zaccheaeus...he recognized God in Jesus and it made him act like some kind of radical!!...who in their right mind, especially a tax collector in those days, would seek out those whom he had cheated just to pay them back????)
Today is Epiphany Sunday....the day the church celebrates the fact that some learned men from an eastern country came to where Jesus was, as a small child, and brought gifts to him, and recognized him as a king...not a king from their own country but "The King". It was enough to get them to travel for a very long time and an extremely long way just to acknowledge this particular child. It must have been an "epiphany" moment when they too, recognized God in Jesus.
I like to think about those visits....the wise men and their visitation to the child, Jesus, and especially the visit that Jesus made to the house of Zacchaeus during his ministry here on earth. We aren't always ready to receive company...you know, the house is a mess, haven't dusted in two weeks, dishes are unwashed in the sink, the bathroom towels need changing, not to mention that toilet bowl!!! Are we EVER ready to receive company????really????? When Jesus says he coming over, there's no time for all that preparation. He simply comes. Because he's coming to see US, to talk, to let us know some things and to tell us not to worry about unimportant stuff. He comes to listen and comfort and simply 'be'.
I know that Advent is a time of preparation, to prepare ourselves for the coming of God into the world but I believe that to be an inward preparation, getting our hearts ready and soft and pliable in order that something gentle and good can come in and dwell. But the times when God simply comes over, knocks on our door, we open it and invite him in....those are 'epiphany' moments...we recognize who we are and who He is and how God's love in us and through us and around us just flows...back and forth, until we become one with God and his Spirit.
It's all a mystery.
I don't know how it happens.
But when it does, it becomes an epiphany....that moment that says "Aaaahaaaaaaaaa....now I see!!!!"
Getting back to the availability stuff, ya, Jesus always seemed to be available to folks. I want to be like that. I want to be able to be so in tune to others that I know their need before it is expressed and I want to be available, totally, to them.
When son was asked how long he would be staying here in P.A., his response was "indefinitely". He has learned the art of being available. He sees a need and goes wherever the need is and makes his life available to those who need a listening ear, a word of wisdom, a moment of encouragement. Being available is a gift to others!!
So, I pray that you and I would recognize those epiphany moments in life and allow them to change us from the inside out...
Sleep well.....
1 comment:
If Jesus is ready to come in no matter how the place looks or how ready we are or how ready we think we are, that has some profound implications, I think.
We think we need to 'get ready' but from God's point of view, most of us are already as ready as we need to be...we just aren't willing to open the door! It's kind of funny, from one angle.
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