Thoughts for the Day

Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, ‘Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.’

(New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

How many ways can you say "Thank you"? That is, in how many languages? How about: "Merici" (French), "Gracias" (Spanish), "Grazie" (Italian), "Danke" (German), "Bedankt" (Dutch), "Efharisto" (Greek), "Diolch" (Welsh)? That's my limit, without looking them up - culled over many years (eg lived in Cyprus, Germany and Wales, have Peruvian daughter-in-law, learnt some french and Italian, and once had a lovely Dutch curate!)

Jesus says the disciples are blessed to recognise who he is. These words in Luke's Gospel come immediately before the lawyer asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, that then leads onto the parable of the Good Samaritan. The lawyer wants to challenge Jesus, who has just indicated that those who see him as the Son of God and is the one who has come to save us, are blessed by God.

When we come to faith, whether through stages from birth onwards, or by some blinding moment of clarity, we are truly blessed by God. We are invited to share in the life of God; we are influenced by Him as we allow His hand to direct our life; and we are living as His children in the world.

Our response to this wonderful offer is to say "THANK YOU!" in as many ways as possible!

Lord Jesus Christ,
we thank You for calling us
to be Your people.
You blessed Your disciples for their insight,
even when they made mistakes.
Help us to draw closer to You day by day,
and forgive us when we lack faith and lose our way.
Help us always to remember
that You have blessed us,
and make us worthy of that blessing.
Amen.