PRAYER PAUSE
Monday 7 January 2019
CHANGE YOUR WAY OF THINKING BECAUSE …
Enter into the stillness of God within.
Reading. “Jesus began his preaching with the message,
‘Change your way of thinking because the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’” (Matthew 4:12…25)
Reflection. The character of these days around Epiphany is the “showing” of
Jesus to the nations. Matthew announces the
opening of his preaching with grand phrases: “Land of Zebulun! Galilee of the nations!” Then he gives the
reason for rejoicing: it is “because” the kingdom is close. A Jesuit brother of mine, Donal McKenna, loved
that ‘because’ and his last words to me were, “Remember gar (for, or because)!” This short Greek word appeals to our humanity;
all our faculties of reason and heart are called to bend to this new reality
announced by Jesus. The kingdom, the reign,
of God is very near to us. We are to
reach out with everything we have to grasp it.
It is a call that cuts through everything I call ‘my life’. It invites a
change, a conversion, at every moment so that I do the will of God in all
things.
Prayer. Lord,
help us to enter this New Year with great generosity; to wrench our choices
from selfish interests to the love and service of others. Amen.
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