Gn 16:1-12, 15-16 or 16:6b-12, 15-16 Ps 106:1b-2, 3-4a, 4b-5 Mt 7:21-29

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

Once when I was in grade school, my friend and I thought it would be a fantastic idea to create our own language. We worked hours upon hours in my tree fort coming up with names for objects and phrases. Needless to say, even with all our planning and practicing, our new dialect lasted maybe twenty-four hours. Both of us quickly forgot the right words or could not recall what the other person was saying. We tried our best, but our language lacked much- including cohesiveness and stability.

Jesus, on the other hand, spoke a language which had the power to break barriers between hierarchies, to rise above all stereotypes, and to find a way into peoples’ hearts. Jesus did not want this language to be kept secret; he shared each letter, syllable, phrase, and paragraph every time he spoke. He yearned for everyone to latch onto his words and spread his teachings like wildfire.

So what is Jesus’ language? I believe his language is purely and simply love. Even in today’s Gospel reading, while it could appear to be chastisement for not following God’s will or merely hearing words but not putting what Jesus taught into action, his words ooze love. These sayings are meant to point people toward the ability to live fulfilling lives on this earth with as much joy, happiness, and love for others as possible. Jesus is telling us to not live for ourselves, continuing to do good things without the foundation of God’s love guiding our actions or to hear what he preaches and then disregard the teachings as not being applicable to us. He desires with his whole heart that we let his language burn into our hearts, minds, and lips to feel his love, realize his life story, and share with others his message.

Let us spend time with the Gospels meditating upon Jesus’ words in order to become translators for all!

***Today is a gift. Live it like that.***