Thursday March 24, 2011

100th post!

Matthew 17:5

"While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.'"

The Little Black Book did the thing it often does where it went off on a tangent (I know, who am I to judge for that?) and discussed the difference between here, with only Peter, James and John, and the Last Supper with everyone. It pointed out that there are some personal and some communal experiences of God.

But I wonder - was the Last Supper more for Jesus than for the disciples? A last gathering, one last night before the end, to say goodbye and make for Himself a way to be with us always, always physically present in the breaking of the bread. And John the Gospel Writer has so much more to write about that evening than this day. I've always thought that going to Mass, doing good works, are not for God's benefit but for ours. If you're doing it to curry favor, you're doing it wrong. The blessing doesn't come later, it comes in the moment.

But I think now that I was shortchanging God's love of us to say that going to Mass, receiving communion, is not what we do for Him but He for us. Certainly, it's as lopsided as all of our interactions with God and His infinite love - but as someOne who loves us so, any chance to be with us is for Him. We are making Him happy in that way.

I suppose that doesn't seem a remarkable realization, but He doesn't just speak so that we can go out and praise Him, He enjoys us listening. He enjoys it when we sit at His feet. He enjoys talking to us. He enjoys us.

Again, perhaps it doesn't sound like it should be revelatory - but think about that. Good and hard. The Almighty and All-Powerful and All-Knowing God...enjoys our company. Wants to spend time with us. The silly little creatures who can't stop mucking it up and complaining all the time.

But then, He tells us that we're His children. I suppose I should have known.

Dear Lord, help me to remember to find the time to spend with You, to honor that time and to spend it listening at Your feet. May it bless us both. Thanks You for the outrageous love you have always had for me.