The Sweetness of God
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 God’s sweetness. We certainly don’t need to look far to find someone in need of respite, compassion and God’s healing love. Like many, I understand the yearning for God’s love and healing. 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. Last weekend was my 29th wedding anniversary, two of my three children are near in body and heart, I have plenty to offer my family for today’s Thanksgiving meal, and I have a new puppy who is currently sleeping at my feet. Yes, life is very good. So when happiness eludes me I know I have work to do.
While I certainly see God’s hand in my life and the many blessings he has given me, I have also experienced my fair share of struggles. The empty seats at my Thanksgiving table are painful examples of the effects of generational sin that break my mother’s (and grandmother’s) heart. Through my life’s struggles I have learned there is one thing I must do when the hurt appears – I must turn to God and immerse myself in his love through prayer.
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 see 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 shocking 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 imagine this type of pain. Yet, 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 2018! 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. When my internal light dims I turn to Jesus and his church with increased prayer. I’ve recently changed my daily routine. I started getting up earlier so I could attend the 6:30 am weekday Mass instead of the 8:00 am. This gives me more time to spend in Adoration afterwards – focused on God’s word.
I am inviting you to search within and find where you can increase your time with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Because, after all, this is where you will find the sweetness your heart desires. Our God is faithful, he will deliver. Yes, we will all experience suffering in our lives. With suffering comes an opportunity for our spiritual muscles to grow through prayer and time spent with our Triune God.
Global Light For Christ (GLFC)
During this upcoming Advent Season I invite our GLFC community to pray for healing in our families. Let’s pray for those empty seats at our tables so that they may be filled with our loved ones someday. Praying for forgiveness and generational healing so that our families can experience all the family love God has for us. Let’s also pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who have lost a loved one through physical death, leaving an empty chair at the table. I am praying that they feel the sweetness of God’s love during this season.
I want to thank all of you who post here. When I sit with your petitions, often in the Adoration Chapel at my parish, my heart is deeply touched when I feel both your pain and the love we hold for each other. Even though we are separated by space and time we are a family of brothers and sisters growing in our ability to love in greater measure.
God bless all of you. See you next week Friday – Carolyn
If you would like to learn more about my work and my ministry I invite you to visit my website: CarolynBerghuis.com.
God the Father – hold us in your Fatherly love.
Sacred Heart of Jesus – heal us with your divine love.
God the Holy Spirit – immerse us in divine love.
