I love you

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I love you

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

On the Fifth Day of Christmas

Luke 2:25-31

It had been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. When his parents brought Jesus into the temple, Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying, “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace; your word has been fulfilled. My eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of all people.”

How old was Simeon? Maybe 80? He had been waiting a long time for this moment. His failing vision and eyesight did not fail him when he saw Jesus. He took him in his arms.

Pedro Arupe, leader of the world’s Jesuits for many years, said this:

Nothing is more practical than finding God: that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evenings, how you will spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love and it will decide everything.

Simeon fell in love with God in a quite absolute, final way. When the day finally came, nothing got between him and Jesus.

And of course Pedro Arupe is right about all the rest of us. There is nothing more practical we can possibly do than “find God.” The Jesuits are always saying, “Find God in all things.” What that means is falling in love and staying in love.

This may be easy or difficult; that’s not exactly the point. It is the only goal worth having; that’s the point. All the rest is just fluff. In a week or so we’ll begin observing what the Church calls “ordinary” time, which lasts until Ash Wednesday.

No better time to fall in love.

Let us learn to sing to you, Lord, and sing to each other, and announce your salvation day after day. You made the heavens and you made me, and I praise you now and in all ways.

http://www.christiancounselingservice.com/archived_devotions.php?article_id=1425

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