A Friend Who Previews Glory

Friday, February 2, 2018: The Presentation of the Lord

Malachi 3:1–4 or Hebrews 2:14–18; Psalm 24; Luke 2:22-40

Friday of Week IV in Ordinary Time: Sirach 47:2-11; Psalm 18; Mark 6:14-29

If we believe in Jesus, we already see the glory of the human race.

We don’t just believe, with Julian of Norwich, that “All shall be well… all manner of things shall be well.” We know it. Our “eyes have seen God’s salvation”: God’s glory and ours revealed in the life, death, and future coming of Jesus Christ.

God has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2Corinthians 4:5).

Jesus said “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father… I am in the Father and the Father is in me (John 14:9).

We need to keep acknowledging the mystery we know. Now “we see in a mirror, dimly.” But we see. One day “we will see face to face,” and “know fully” (1Corinthians 13:12). But already we see.

We know the glory of the human race:

He has made known to us the mystery… his plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in Christ… [in] his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:9, 22).

All will be one, as Father, Son, and Spirit are one (John 17:21). That is Christ’s glory and ours.

Friendship is interaction. Interact with Jesus and he will show you previews of glory.

ACTION: List some previews—already visible—of ultimate human unity.

PRAYER: “Lord, be with me. Let me be with you.”