For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. (Isa 62:1-3)
Scripture recounts the unfolding of God’s love in the lives of men and women through the story of God’s great works.
We are invited to listen and enter into this story so that the Lord can create a new story in our lives. Christian faith begins with the insertion of my own story into the story of God. My story is indeed the unfolding of God’s love in history. Therefore, we are invited to bring our stories to Jesus.
No matter how bad or messy our stories are today, especially in this difficult year, the Lord can and does redeem our stories. God can turn our sorrows into joy. But we must make a move towards God in faith.
There is an amazing sense of mutuality in our relationship with God which the ancient spiritual fathers and mothers termed mysterium commercium; that is, a mysterious exchange between us and God: the faith-filled Christian comes before God with the good and bad events of life, allowing God to become part of that story. Our loving and compassionate God receives the story in its beauty and ugliness and transforms it into a new story for the restoration of the wounded Christian.
This is what we call redemption-God’s desire to give us new life and new opportunities and possibilities beyond our human sins and mistakes. In this light, nothing human is definitive. What do I mean here? I mean that your sin or that tragedy you face or the difficult time you are passing through right now will not have the last say in your life.
Redemption means that our human mistakes, the evils around us, our sinfulness, the pains, diseases and tragedies around us do not define us because God desires more for us and so is willing to show mercy to us in our brokenness and wounded humanity and in a hurting world.
Sometimes we bring stories of pain, despair, or doubt. But in this mysterious exchange, God takes upon God’s Self our brokenness, and in exchange grants us wholeness, comfort, and hope. When we bring our stories to Jesus, God embraces us even in our shadows, and through the wonderful exchange grants us the certainty of faith. The Good News is that the stories of our lives, our joys, sorrows, and hopes, do not reside outside of God’s grace and Love-they are all realities that our God can conquer with God’s mighty power.
Questions for Meditation
Am I ready to enter into God’s story? Will I bring my story to God? Will I let Jesus to enter to redeem my story today and liberate me from fear, guilt, doubt, regret, despair and any negative spirit that holds me captive today?
Prayer
Loving Jesus, with St Peter I say, it is wonderful to be with you. I have recalled my journey of life to see that you have stood by me like a strong pillar of protection. Whenever, I run to you , it is always to lay before you my emptiness and pain and you have always accepted me as I am. I do not feel judged and rejected by you. Thank you, Jesus, for turning my life into something beautiful. Amen.
