April 11 Lenten Devotional "Revealing Jesus to the World"

OPENING PRAYER. . .Loving God, Creator of all that is, here I am--today in this place that you have given me, with all the senses you have given me. Help me to use them to experience you on a deeper level. May I experience you all around me, open me to know more of your ways and know that your goodness surrounds me. Thank you for this time to be with you and to just listen. Amen

LISTEN. . .Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father.  But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”  Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.  (John 10:37-39)

CONSIDER. . .Jesus continues to challenge the Jewish leaders and tries to win their hearts, but they are so stuck on their understanding of scripture and tradition that they are closed to God's presence in Jesus' works. Jesus reminds them, "Many good deeds I have shown you from the Father. For which of these of do you stone me?" Maybe it was Jesus' works of preaching. . .healing. . . forgiving. . . praising God. . . caring for the poor or reaching out to those on the margin. Even though many listened to Jesus and came to believe he was from God, many others ignored his works and remained stuck on their perception that he was a blasphemer, making himself God.

SO WHAT. . .Do our works reveal the Word of God in our hearts? Just as Jesus revealed God, we are called to reveal Jesus to the world through charitable works, just acts and kind hospitality.  If our lives are not reflecting and revealing the Word of God is it because we are stuck on our own understanding of scripture and we have our eyes closed to the works of God in our world?  Are we like those in Jesus' time, seeing, but refusing to embrace God's works in the world?

Ending the week pushing us deeper as we move into Holy week. Be open to where God is leading you on this day. . .

PRAYER. . .God of the poor and brokenhearted, give me the grace to reveal Jesus today by MY loving words, patient responses and kind actions. Take me deeper as I continue this Lenten journey, open not only my eyes but my heart to you in this world. Dear Lord, help me to reveal you to a broken world. Amen.