The Promise of Proximity
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
James 4:8-10
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you of two minds. Begin to lament, to mourn, to weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.
Grace Prayed For
I pray for the grace of Holy Humility—that I may recognize my need for God and trust in His promise to meet me as I move toward Him.
Reflection
James provides a beautiful, symmetrical promise: if we take one step toward God, He is already taking a step toward us. However, this “drawing near” requires us to be “single-minded.” Often, our hearts are divided between God and the world. Intimacy with Jesus grows when we stop pretending we have it all together and instead “humble ourselves.” Lent is the season to stop trying to lift ourselves up and instead let God be the one who exalts us in His time.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post