By Sean O' Leary
"I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; Incline your ear to me, hear my words" (Psalm 17:6)
Our greatest treasure cannot be found in shops or banks or entertainment, but it can be found somewhere much closer to home for it lies waiting within each one of us. Whether we are interested in God or not, God’s Sprit is in every one of us, prompting us to know ourselves more deeply and to look outwards with a loving heart.
‘As a deer longs for flowing streams, my soul longs for you, O God.’ (Psalm 42:1)
At Christmas, we gather in awe and gratitude to recount the sacred story of Christmas. We remember that in the quiet of night, angels announced the birth of Jesus to humble shepherds, declaring peace on earth and goodwill to all. Mary and Joseph found shelter in a simple stable in Bethlehem, where God’s son was born into the world, a small baby sleeping in a manger. A star above led wise men from afar, bearing gifts, to worship this newborn King, telling us that God’s light shines for all humanity.
‘Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God with us).’ (Isaiah 7:14)
Every time we pray, we too encounter the miracle of Bethlehem. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus asks us to go to our ‘private room’, that secret place deep within each of us to pray where we can be alone with God, where we can be our true selves, where we can see ourselves more clearly and begin to live more freely.
‘I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints.’ (Ephesians 1:17-18)
Our search for God is difficult because we often hide from ourselves. When we face God as we are, we take an honest and sometimes painful look at ourselves. In the Gospel of John, Jesus describes prayer as God making a home with us. This tells us that God wants to be close to us and share in our joys, sorrows, decisions and everyday moments. To be a home for God is to allow God to settle in and reshape the way we see the world, make decisions and form relationships with others.
‘Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:6)
The Gospel accounts of the Good News were written so that we might gain a new life of freedom and make it our own for God speaks to each one of us in the Scriptures and in the ordinary events of daily life. This encourages self-awareness through a journey of self-understanding and empathy for others. We are reflective creatures; both influencing and being influenced by those around us.
‘Just as water reflects the face, so one human heart reflects another.’ (Proverbs 27:19)
The space in our hearts that we make for prayer is a sacred space where God dwells as our constant companion. In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells us to set our hearts on God’s kingdom and everything else will be given to us. When we strive to find our true self, we are getting in touch with God who wants each one of us to love God and love our neighbour as ourselves.
‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.’ (Romans 15:13)
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