The Jews responded in distrust, skepticism and doubt. "Who do you make yourself out to be?" Do we not also respond to Jesus the same way but perhaps more in our actions than in words? Do we perform with lackluster? Would people know we love Him?
If royalty was visiting would you not do more--more respectful, courteous, holding our tongue, more conservative in our dress, on time for the royal feast, and more attentive to those whom the king loves--mother, father or brothers and sisters?
Do we recognize God when He is not robed in riches? We can be distrustful and anxious, too carefree, too "friendly", too "not in awe" of His presence.
We have a way of not truly acting as if we are in the presence of God. Unlike the hardened hearts of the people with Jesus, may we ask for the virtues of faith, hope and charity as Lent nears its end. Beg God for these gifts, as we approach His Royal Majesty. "For you know the generous act of our Lord, Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sake, He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9).
May we be like the anawim of the Old Testament--the poor in spirit--the vulnerable, marginalized, those living in low self esteem, dependent totally in God for everything. The Hebrew word, anawim describes those who remained faithful to God in times of difficulty as well as in good times. May we be the "faithul remnant" bowing down, faithful to God, waiting in our emptiness for the splendorous Resurrection.
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