Many Prophets Longed to See What You See

Mt 13:10-17

Considering that we have the New Testament that speaks of the words and deeds of Christ. That we have books of martyrs and saints that testify to the life-transforming grace brought about by faith in Christ. That we have men and women (and children) who openly speak about how they are changed by the love of Christ. We are blessed indeed that we are not like the prophets of old who merely proclaimed the coming of the Son of God.

We feel Jesus in our hearts. We see Him in the face of the poor and the oppressed and from a dear and loving friend. We hear Him in the sounds of nature and from the eloquence of a learned man or the cry of a newborn babe. We are one with the Jesuit poet Gerard Manley Hopkins in saying that:

THE WORLD is charged with the grandeur of God.
It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;
It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil

We are lucky that we never have to second-guess or wait in hopeful but agonizing anticipation of His coming. Christ' life is there for all of us to see and marvel. But not everyone of us will appreciate this truth. Some will continue to look for further signs. Some would see only contradictions among facts. And some would doubt even the proof of His life and redeeming love. Many will lead us astray.

In the confusion and chaos around us, it might be good to pause for awhile and speak to the Jesus in our hearts. In silence and solitude let us pour our hearts to Him and tell Him our concerns and worries for this day. Speak to Him of our loves and preoccupation. Speak too about our hurts and pains, trials and defeats. Converse with Him about what makes us laugh and cry.

And in the end, allow Him to speak to us. As a dear friend to another. As a father to a son. As a sister to a younger sibling. Because many prophets longed to see what we see but did not see it .