Back during Jesus’ earthly ministry, a crowd of onlookers, after observing Him in action, commented, “He does all things well.”  And so, He did, during His earthly ministry.  And do we not believe the same to be true today?  (Maybe, or maybe not).  But if we do believe this to be true, why don’t we put Him to the test and go to Him in prayer more often?  I suspect that most of us are reluctant to do so, or, at very least, negligent in doing this.  Why don’t we give Him a try?

Today’s Scripture and meditation asks us a very important question, namely what is the most important thing in our lives?  For the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, it was position, possessions, and outward appearances of religiosity.  So, what is most important to us?  In a society that promotes acquisition--especially in this pre-Christmas season--achievement and appearance, this can be a rather challenging question.  Something to think about.

Our psalm and meditation for today remind us that it is never too late, or too extreme a situation, for prayer.  Our psalmist was in a thoroughly dismal situation--much of which he felt was God’s fault--and still he felt that it was important to pray.  And, here’s where it is especially important and noteworthy, still felt that it was important to let God know of his feelings and frustrations.  You’d assume that God already knew of these, but even so, our psalmist felt that it was important to share these with God.

Without any sense of hesitation, I think that I can confidently say that all of us--or at least, most of us--have feelings of frustration over something taking place in our world today, be it personal, local, national or international.  Things are not always the way we’d like them to be.  And, so picking up on the example of today’s psalmist, maybe it would be a good idea to take these things to God.  In fact, wouldn’t that be a good exercise to practice during the few weeks’ leading up to Christmas--to be intentional, and deliberate, in daily bringing to God those things that we are concerned about?  Will you be willing to join with me in this?  Thanks.

Many years ago I read a book by Henri Nouwen entitled, The Return of the Prodigal Son, which profoundly challenged me, and changed my life.  It forced me to re-evaluate my life.  I, being an elder brother, and a very conscientious, ‘law-abiding’ and scrupulous person to boot, saw myself in pretty exalted terms.  After all, I had worked hard and made something of my life.  But then, by virtue of this book, I began also to see myself as a younger brother, a brother with gifts and advantages who squandered them and who saw little value in the splendid life he had enjoyed there at home with the Father.  I realized that, as with both brothers, I needed the grace, acceptance, and welcome of a loving God.  And so it is with all of us.

Are you ever tempted to ‘write’ someone off?  I know that I am, at least on occasion: someone that is unduly nasty or discourteous, for instance, or someone with a ‘well-developed’ sense of entitlement, or those who belligerently or arrogantly insists on their own way or their own opinion without considering the needs and opinions of anyone else.  However, I am somewhat chastened when I realize that our Lord ‘writes’ no one off.  He loves everyone, regardless of their actions, and wants to win them and include them in His kingdom.  So, I (we) should try to do the same.  And so I have to pray, “Lord, help me!”

Thanks be to God that we are not accepted and included in the Kingdom of God based on our own merits or achievement.  In today’s Gospel reading we see something of what Jesus expects of us, and if truth be told, probably none of us ever measure up to this very well.  Thanks be to God that we can always be forgiven and be given another chance.  That doesn’t stop us from trying but certainly removes from us the burden of failure and never quite ‘making it.’  Thanks be to God for such grace.