Where I Want to Go

A Reflection on the Second Reading for October 17th, 2021:
Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Hebrews
4.14-16

Brothers and sisters: Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
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In a moment during mass recently, I realized that I have not been allowing Jesus to accompany me. I thought to myself, “I should really spend some time in prayer with that one.” 

True to form, I allowed the stress and busyness of life to be my excuse for not really sitting with this word — but thanks to Ora and to God for His providence, I now sit in prayer with this verse from Hebrews, and here it is: The answer to my question, “What does it look like for Jesus to accompany me?” 

In His humanity, there is nothing, except sin, that Jesus doesn’t share with me. He lives, and He learns. He prays, teaches, and heals. He’s hungry, and thirsts. He seeks people, draws them in; He tells the truth. He withdraws; He engages. He asks questions. He answers questions. He suffers, and weeps. Above all, He points to God the Father. 

Jesus says in John 5:39-44: “You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf. Yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human beings. But I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God?”

I seek “glory” from others, and in my circumstances, all the time. I seek love, approval, and reassurance. I seek recognition, comfort, and security. 

We are all wired to seek these things. We’ve witnessed the Disciples seeking these things, too. We also witnessed Jesus offering them the glory they sought, and our goal is to do the same. His point here is that the difference lies in where we go first to find them.

Jesus points to God the Father. To the throne of grace.

God wants to accompany us in this way. In Jesus, Love has come to stay with us, and perfect Love casts out fear (1John 4:18). It casts out the desire for anything but the glory of God. I have been in this place, where without a second thought, I act out of perfect love; this place where I forget myself. This is where I want to find myself more and more. And I see better now how Jesus accompanies me on the way there.

 
Lord Jesus, You are the greatest gift. You are my consolation, my strength, my return to God. You cast out fear. The grace of You is all I really need. I make the choice today to seek You, to allow You to heal me and to accompany me so that I can accompany others, in Your holy name. Amen. 


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Lindsay Elford
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