Behold the one beholding you......

.......And smiling

That is our God.  The one who loves us more than we can ever know.  The one who wants to be in relationship with us - that is to have faith.

I started listening to an audio book of Tattoos on the Heart by Father Boyle.  He is coming to Columbus through First Community Church and Audrey encouraged me to read this.  Father Gregory Boyle is an American Jesuit priest who is the founder and director of Homeboy Industries, the world's largest gang intervention and rehabilitation program.  This book is stories from that ministry interwoven with theological reflections.  This quote - BEHOLD THE ONE BEHOLDING YOU AND SMILING- comes from his book.

Last night in Bible study we talked about the time that Jesus said to his disciples - who do you say that I am?  Peter gave the "correct" answer - you are the Messiah, the son of the living God.  At the same time, he did not really understand what kind of Messiah Jesus was going to be.  He probably could not grasp a Messiah who would humbly give himself to the authorities, die on a cross and be resurrected.

In the discussion last night we talked about the fact that however we describe Jesus or God - God is always more.  More than we can say and more than we can imagine.  I get the same sense as I listen to this book as Father Gregory Boyle loves and ministers to these gang members and shows them God's love and compassion.  

The devotional for today is about the mystery of faith  - that connection between us and God:

"Faith begins with the understanding that somehow it is important to you and to God that you know each other.  He cares.  You care.  Through all of the stories in the Bible runs the thread of this struggle to care.  Christian faith is an affirmation that because God cares about you, your life transcends time."

So, I begin this day understanding that God is real and more loving and compassionate than I can fully grasp. And God - the living God of all life is gazing upon this one part of creation - ME - with love and smiling. .  That love can change the way I spend this day, take care of myself, and reach out to others.  

Here is today's blessing

May you be conpanioned by the God of SERENITY.

May this God always make his presence known in your with a spirit of calm and confidence in the One who created you.

May you in turn be a peaceful presence to all you meet 

and may you insert peace into every situation you enter.

May the God of SERENITY be with you.

(Maxine Shonk)