Thursday, August 21, 2008

Today’s text

Matthew 16:13-17

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Phillipi he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of man is?' And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 'But you,' he said, 'who do you say I am?' Then Simon Peter spoke up and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a blessed man! Because it was no human agency that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven.

Prayer

The awareness that blesses, that makes us truly alive comes as a gift of God. That’s what you say, Jesus. There is no other way to this knowledge, and a strange knowledge it is.

How did Peter know? What tipped him off? For that matter, why is it that the truth that comes to life in you, Jesus, comes as such welcome awareness in my soul?

You heal and bless. You push back against arrogant voices and forces that lord over others. You create a gracious space around you where the outcast is welcome, where the confused and inquiring can ask clumsy questions without reproach, where there is no need to be anything other than who and what we are because we are wanted, treasured.

Your presence creates this space, and you call it God’s kingdom, God’s realm.

And then you welcome us, inviting us into arms of God’s eternal embrace, a holy homecoming. You take us into that space where we know our lives and graces are the generous outpouring of the Loving Mystery expressed in your every word and act.

I can’t figure this out by act of mind or will. But when I know you, when I am in that space you create around you--and even now in my soul--I know, even as Peter knew.

He didn’t figure it out any more than I do. He just knew you--and understood, a gift of awareness from an Infinite Source of unending generosity.

Pr. David L. Miller