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Love (III) Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back, Guilty of dust and sin. But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack From my first entrance in, Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning If I lacked anything. "A guest," I answered, "worthy to be here": Love said, "You shall be he." "I, the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear, I cannot look on thee." Love took my hand, and smiling did reply, "Who made the eyes but I?" "Truth, Lord; but I have marred them; let my shame Go where it doth deserve." "And know you not," says Love, "who bore the blame?" "My dear, then I will serve." "You must sit down," says Love, "and taste my meat." So I did sit and eat. - George Herbert, 17th C.
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The daily word of Jesus to our restless, anxious, reckless, feckless, prone-to-wander hearts, spirits, minds: “Now don’t be afraid, just go on believing!”
When the world, or life, or circumstance, or our deceitful human heart proclaims hope dead: “Now don’t be afraid, just go on believing!” When the troubles of others seem to eclipse our own; when we feel ourselves insignificant in the economy of God: “Now don’t be afraid, just go on believing!” When we feel as though the enormities and exigencies of human existence swallow up the meaningfulness of our lives: “Now don’t be afraid, just go on believing!” When the annoyances and busynesses and frictions of our day-by-days annoy, overwhelm, rub our belief the wrong way: “Now don’t be afraid, just go on believing!” When the reality of our freedom becomes a long-lost memory—or a victim of our now-rigid orthodoxies: “Now don’t be afraid, just go on believing!” When our past will not allow us proper experience of His present presence: “Now don’t be afraid, just go on believing!” When personal tragedy strikes: “Now don’t be afraid, just go on believing!” When mundane normalcy numbs: “Now don’t be afraid, just go on believing!” Lord Jesus, would you whisper again to my restlessness, my anxiety, my foolishness, my waywardness with your wonderful words of old: “Now don’t be afraid, just go on believing”? Today, I am listening. (from Mk. 5:21-36) The citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven possess its wonders in the inward depths of their own humility. They accept the heavenly comfort offered them as they mourn for the kingdoms of the earth. They aim not at claiming anything here for themselves; yet, possessing nothing, they attain to everything worth having. They delight in feasting daily on the goodnesses of the Kingdom of Heaven: their satisfaction knows no end.
The citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven are merciful with the mercy they’ve received; they, in turn, receive additional mercies. They are of the truest-hearted natures, and, by those, they experience daily glimpses of the face of God. They are passionate after peace and bring its bounties where’er they go: they are sons of God, like Jesus, in this. They are fearless in their sufferings and carry their courage, intact, within them: they are, too, like Jesus, in this. The citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven are joyful—yes, effervescently joyful—for their lives are already “hid with Christ” in Heaven. They are following in His Way alongside Him, surrounded by the glory-cloud of witnesses from all the ages. Thus the citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven are countenanced. The citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven are truly blessed. (paraphrased from Mt. 5:1-12) |
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Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.A.
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