Found by the One We Seek
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Jeremiah 29:11-14
For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes.
Grace Prayed For
The grace to seek God with an undivided heart, trusting completely in His promise that He is actively working for my good and desires to be found by me.
Reflection
God’s first word to us in this passage is one of profound, personal love: “For I know the plans I have for you.” This is not a generic, distant plan, but a specific, intimate blueprint for our well-being and flourishing. It’s a plan born from the heart of the Father, who desires nothing but a “future of hope” for us, His beloved children. This is the foundation of our relationship with Him—the unshakable truth that we are known, planned for, and loved with a purpose.
How do we enter into this plan? Through the very disciplines of intimacy you are praying for. God invites us into a divine exchange.
- Prayer: “When you call me… I will listen to you.” Prayer is our response to His initiative. It is the turning of our heart toward the One who is already turned toward us. It is in this vulnerable act of calling out—sharing our hopes, fears, and daily encounters—that we find a God who doesn’t just hear, but truly listens. He receives what we share, and in that reception, we are known.
- Word: “When you look for me, you will find me.” We look for Him in the scriptures, where His promises, like this one, are revealed. The Word is not just a historical text; it is a living encounter with Jesus, the Word made flesh. In reading and meditating on scripture, we are actively seeking the face of God, allowing His truth to shape our minds and hearts.
- Presence: “Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you.” This is the culmination of prayer and the Word. It calls for our whole being—our full, undivided attention. Intimacy cannot be compartmentalized. God wants all of us. When we offer Him our presence, our “whole heart,” we discover that He has been present to us all along. This is the essence of intimacy: a mutual abiding, a shared presence where His love can shine forth from us.
This encounter transforms us. When we are “found” by God, we are restored. We are filled with the love of the Trinity, a love that cannot be contained. In every encounter—with family, friends, or strangers—we are then empowered to both share the hope we have received and receive the image of Christ present in the other person. We become living proof of God’s good plan, shining His light into a world that desperately needs it.
Daily Evangelization and Baptismal Mission
Fulfilling your mission is about reflecting the intimate love you receive from God in your everyday encounters.
- Evangelize through Listening: When someone shares their struggles, listen with your whole heart, just as the scripture says God listens to you. Don’t rush to give advice. Your attentive, compassionate presence can be a more powerful witness to God’s love than any words you could say.
- Share Your Story of Hope: When appropriate, share a small piece of your own story. You don’t need to preach a sermon. Simply say something like, “I know life can be overwhelming, but my faith gives me a deep sense of hope that things will be okay. My relationship with Jesus has truly been my anchor.” This makes the Gospel personal and relatable.
- Be an Agent of “Welfare”: Look for small opportunities to contribute to the “welfare and not for woe” of others. Offer to help a neighbor, buy a coffee for a coworker having a tough day, or offer a sincere compliment. These acts are tangible signs of God’s loving plan at work through you, partnering with Jesus in His restorative mission.
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