An encounter with awe
I am always fascinated gazing into the night sky when there is a full moon shining, along with an abundance of stars. When I walk below the starlit night sky, it is as if God is presenting me with a gift, a gift as beautiful as a diamond ring. God is showing his love. The stars are not just thrown out there randomly. Those who look closely and study them can connect the dots and see figures of animals and humans. The skies reflect the beauty of God’s creation on earth.
Then when I look at photos taken by the James A. Webb telescope, which allows me to see far beyond what my human eye can see from earth, I am filled with awe. The vastness of God’s creation is just awesome.
This Advent-Christmas season tells us how the awesome God of the universe chose to come to earth and be born in human flesh because God loves us so much and wants us to experience his intimate, personal love. When we experience Jesus, we are experiencing the awesome God who created the universe and who keeps it in existence, but at the same time this God wants to be very personal with each one of us. How awesome is that?
This God of the universe chose to reveal himself not just to the human race in general, but he chooses to reveal himself to each one of us personally and enter into a personal relationship with each of us. That is really amazing. He loves me individually, by name.
St. Gaspar experienced that love during his quiet time in prison. His relationship with Jesus intensified. After his release from imprisonment, he traveled from town to town in Italy preaching missions about how much God loved them too, and how God was inviting them to turn to him.
Fr. Keith Branson, C.PP.S., wrote the song “Linger with Me” inspired by the seventh circular letter of St. Gaspar. In the letter, Jesus says “Linger with me, linger with me. Let my love set your heart on fire, let my Blood make you whole.”
This Advent-Christmas season can be very rushed and busy for many of us. It takes a conscious decision for me to spend some quiet time with Jesus. I encourage you to look for a quiet moment yourself, to go away from your busyness and linger in the awesome love that God has for you personally. Jesus is longing for you to do so.
Fr. Ron Will, C.PP.S.
Provincial Councilor
Precious Blood Renewal Center in Liberty, Missouri