Do you ever find yourself settling into spiritual complacency? Mass on Sunday. The occasional daily mass. Confession once a month. Ok, more like once every few months. It’s not great, but I’m doing alright. Things are fine, I guess. So why change?
The reality is, however, that we should never just settle with where we are at. We should always be longing for more of what Our Lord has to offer and making whatever radical changes He requires of us.
In today’s readings I see two situations where people were ready to settle, when Jesus broke in and rocked their worlds.
From the First Reading is the man born crippled. He takes his place by the city gate like he does everyday, he settles in for the long hours of begging for money. I picture him, tired and frustrated, holding out his hand without even looking to see who may be passing by. Then he is startled by someone shouting at him, “Look at us!”
Wake up! Pay attention! Something is about to happen!
What he expected was some loose change. What he received was life changing. Total healing.
Then in the Gospel we see the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They were discouraged, apprehensive, maybe even scared. They had probably spent the last several months of their lives following Jesus and placing their hope in Him. Now, for all they knew, He was gone and life was going to go back to the way it was before. Then after Jesus comes to them, explains the scriptures to them, and eventually reveals Himself to them in the breaking of bread, they exclaim, “Did not our hearts burn within us when he talked to us on the road?”
My dear sisters, have your hearts ever burned from an encounter with The Lord? Have your eyes been opened to His real presence in the Eucharist? Have your been made new in the confessional? Have you been healed? Has your life been changed? Remember what that feels like, and don’t go back!
I’m not saying that everyday will be a mountain top experience, or that life will always feel like a week at Bible camp. But don’t settle for “ok” or “just fine” in your spiritual life. Ask for more, and expect it, everyday.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
Anna Coyne is a wife, mother, knitter, gardener, and convert to the Catholic faith. Read more about her here.
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