Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.
Today's Gospel: Mark 12:38-44
Again and again, Jesus challenges our thinking. He tells us things like “the last shall be first” and completely upends our view of the world. Instead of praising the scribes who were educated and put in places of honor, He condemns them for their vanity and desire for admiration. He sees those who are considered powerless or unworthy of recognition and elevates them in our eyes. He teaches us to see our neighbor the way God sees them; by looking into their hearts and valuing them as one of God’s creations.
It’s so easy for us to fall into the trap of letting outward appearances influence our view of those around us. In the world of social media, often all we see of our neighbor is highly curated, edited, and filtered. And, those who live on the margins of society aren’t exactly “influencers” with thousands of followers affirming their every move. I often fall into the trap of being seduced by image instead of focusing my attention on what is true, and right, and good.
When I take time to really see past the flash at those around me, I find I’m surprised at the many people I know that live as humble, gentle, generous disciples of Christ. But, I can’t do that without God’s help. I have to let go of my preconceptions to allow myself to enter into the mind of God. I have to stop looking with my eyes and instead look at others with the eyes of God to know what is truly valuable in His sight. I guess you could say, His sight gives me insight.
Ponder:
Do I fall into the trap of valuing things that aren’t important to God in His Kingdom? Do I look past the vulnerable and powerless to focus on those who seek my admiration and attention like the scribes?
Pray:
Lord Jesus, help me to see as You see. Help me to value those people, actions, and beliefs that don’t make me more popular so that I can build up the Kingdom of God here on earth. Amen.
Copyright 2021 Laura B. Nelson
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