Seeing Christ in the Other

[The Word] was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him.--
John 1:10,11

The Kingdom of God is that reality where our behavior and thought fully reflect our living in the presence of God. God's Kingdom demands that we deeply experience God's presence within us that we might be converted continually to God's authority. I say converted because as John indicates in his Gospel, the inclination is not first to accept God's reign. Matthew's Gospel goes so far as to say that God's Kingdom may look differently than what you may expect--that all kinds of people, not considered part of God's community (8:11), will come within God's reign. And what makes it even more confusing is that oftentimes citizens of the Kingdom of God become members without even realizing it (25:38,44).

In this season of Lent, let us learn to move beyond who is in and who is out. When the Word is near us, let us make sure that our attention is focused on it so that we will not repeat the mistake that "The Word was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him."

Let us pray,
Holy and Mighty One, whose beloved Son Jesus Christ blessed the pure in heart: We give you thanks for the life and teachings of John Cassian that draw us to a discipline of holy living for the sake of your reign. Call us to turn the gaze of the eyes of our soul always toward you, that we may abide in your love, shown to us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who with you and the Holy Spirit is one God, living and true, to the ages of ages. Amen.