Do you know someone who is hurting today, someone who is in need of the sweet love that God alone offers? Someone who has heartache within? Maybe you are the one in need of such sweetness. We certainly don’t need to look far to find someone in need of respite, compassion and God’s healing love. As I shared several weeks ago in my reflection, I recently experienced the shadow of sadness myself. You see, we are all alike in our need for God’s healing love and I am no exception. I too suffer an occasional bout of internal sadness, sometimes feeling confused and not sure why I have found myself in such a state.
After all, my life is pretty good and I live a very blessed life. Today I celebrate my 27th wedding anniversary with the love of my life, I attended early morning Mass, I spent precious time in the Adoration Chapel in my parish, spoke with my children and as I type this reflection my dog Chloe sits next to me. Yes, life is very good. So when happiness eludes me I am left confused as to why.
However, I have had my fair share of struggles in my life and I have had to fight for the life, and the happiness, I now experience. Through my life’s struggles I have learned there is one thing I must do when the sadness appears – I must turn to God and immerse myself in him. And this is exactly what I did.
Today’s Readings
So what does this have to do with today’s readings? Well, for me the readings really hit home. Let me explain. In our first reading we see John was instructed to take a small scroll from the angel with the command to “take and swallow” it. The scroll will taste sweet; however, it will turn his stomach sour. The scroll was sweet because it predicted the sweet final victory of God’s people. It turned John’s stomach sour because it also announced the people’s sufferings. You see, we will all suffer, we will all experience heartache and pain in this lifetime of ours. Yet, God will forever remain faithful and his victory is promised.
Ezekiel’s Scroll
We saw in Ezekiel that he too was instructed by God to eat a scroll and fill his stomach with it. (Ezekiel 3:3) After this instruction God then told the prophet to go to the people of Israel and speak God’s words to them. However, God also warned Ezekiel that the people of Israel will not listen to him – they “had a hard forehead and a stubborn heart.” They were a rebellious house, practicing idolatry and offending God over and over. Poor Ezekiel – talk about being set up for failure! Yet, Ezekiel persevered through significant adversity, trials, and tribulations. He delivered God’s message, utilizing unique and sometimes very bizarre methods.
A little history is in order here. Ezekiel was a prophet during the Babylonian exile. The people of Judah had been forced to leave their homes and all they knew. Many (most) of their family members had been killed or lost, and the Temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed during this period. And still, the people would not listen to the prophet. Can you imagine the profound pain and trauma you would experience if your children, your parents, your friends and kinsmen were suddenly lost or killed, you were suddenly homeless, starving and on top of that your place of worship was stripped away from you – no sacraments, no alter – nothing,? I certainly cannot.
Sadly, the people of Ezekiel’s day had moved so far away from God that even in their suffering they could not hear God’s word. Ezekiel was in their midst ready to speak it’s sweetness to them and they could not hear him. In the end God was faithful and he rescued his people from Babylonian oppression and they were once again able to hear God’s word – God was faithful just as he had promised.
John’s Message Was a Little Different
John’s scroll was a little different wasn’t it? The voice from heaven told him the scroll would turn his stomach sour – suffering will happen before God’s final victory. So here we are today. There is much suffering in the world, yet there is also abundant goodness all around us. God’s word reaches across the globe and people are turning to it for respite, healing, wisdom and guidance – evidence is your reading of this reflection today. John was commissioned to prophesy again to people across the globe – “people’s, nations, tongues, and kings.” He was commissioned to speak so that we could hear it today in 2016! What an amazing triumph John and the early disciples accomplished. Through their efforts we get to hear the word of God.
House of Prayer
Jesus calls us to make his house a house of prayer, a place where we will experience the sweetness of God. I followed his advice these last few weeks as I sought freedom from my sadness. While I didn’t understand why my internal light was dimming, all I knew was that I needed to turn to Jesus and his church with increased prayer. I changed my daily routine. I started getting up earlier so I could attend the earlier Mass at my church. This gave me more time to spend in Adoration every day – focused on God’s word. I also started listening to a daily Rosary as I got ready for the day, making a point to offer it up for those on my prayer list. Then one day, my heart was lighter, my smile was back, and the internal sweet light I love so much returned – I felt alive again. Maybe God was calling me into a deeper union with him through my sadness, if so, it certainly worked.
Of course, I am not telling you that you must take the exact same steps I took, unless of course, you feel God is calling you to do so. He calls each of us differently. However, what I am inviting you to do is to search within and find where you can increase your time with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit because this is where the sweetness is my friends. Our God is faithful, he will deliver. However, we will all experience suffering in our lives, and with this suffering comes an offer to spend an eternal life of sweet bliss and happiness with God.
I hope you find your way home towards the sweetness of Jesus Christ – the one who is love himself. May you speak and think words of love, forgiveness and mercy as you sing and praise of God’s glory! – Carolyn
Sacred Heart of Jesus – have mercy on us.
Mother Mary – pray for us.
Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne – pray for us.
Today’s Readings Revelations 10:8-11, Psalm 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131; Alleluia John 10:27, Luke 19:45-48
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