Friar’s Corner: The Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head
Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR
1 Kings 19:16b, 19-21; Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-11; Galatians 5:1, 13-18; Luke 9:51-62
Of all the lines in this {week’s four scripture readings, I find my theme this week very interesting. Jesus has nowhere to rest his head, some place to find comfort. Can we give him our heart to rest in? This past week I spent four days on retreat, praying and listening to presentations with other priests, deacons and seminarians. As I write this I am praying that the Holy Spirit will help us understand the double meaning in that one gospel sentence, the Son of man has nowhere to rest his head. Does that thought cause you to weep for him?
What does Jesus need?
Certainly, Jesus as Lord of heaven and earth does not need anything. Yet he wants to spend some resting time each day with us. That will be better than prime time TV. We are the ones in need of resting in Jesus. Do we have some time and a special place to quietly rest next to the heart of Jesus to receive his comfort and joy? We hear a call of coming close to Jesus and becoming his follower or disciple. St. John’s gospel tells us, “If you make my word your home, (especially New Testament scriptures), you will indeed be my disciples (students and friends), you will learn my truth, and that truth will set you free,” (John 3:31-32, New Jerusalem Bible translation).
As we find a peaceful and quiet place to read the gospels, we are leaning on the heart of Jesus. He fills us with more and more of his love and enlightens our minds with his truth. That love brings us much comfort, peace and joy. His scriptures set us on fire with the love Jesus had in those gospel stories.
Burning bushes
Then Jesus sends us out to bring his comfort, love and truth to others. We will meet people in our families, church, work and neighborhood that are in need of Jesus’ love, won’t we? Because we have spent some intimate time with Jesus, we will have his power to bring them his love. It will radiate from us. Jesus and his Holy Spirit will teach us how to bring the good news of their love to others. As God’s love flows out of us, it will indeed fill others with much joy. Our heart will feel different. It has been made a little burning bush. The more we pray, the greater the fire of his love in us will grow. Our heart will really feel different. We do help comfort Jesus by bringing his love to others.
Jesus wants us to be little “burning bushes” of his love. Let us pray for each other, that we become brighter burning bushes for God. The world around us needs more of God’s burning love.
Have a brighter week as we burn with more of his love. Thus we help make our area brighter for Jesus. As we burn, God makes the ground around us holy ground.
Let us rejoice together,
+ Fr. Bob Hilz
(© 2016 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)
