His Own
“He loved His own in the world and He loved them to the end.”
Back in February, I bought a new sweatshirt with the text, “Be Still” slathered across the front. Little did I know, the coronavirus would prompt a hefty amount of stillness this lent, which wasn’t what I bargained for. Turns out, I wasn’t as ready to ‘be still’ as I thought. I’ve discovered that being still doesn’t come easily to me.
For me, being still is pretty uncomfortable. I’m a ‘do-er’ by nature, and I like that about myself. I like to take action, to be moving and doing and working. So what does a ‘do-er’ do with stillness? What does a ‘do-er’ do when there’s nothing more to be done?
In this time of stillness,
what does a ‘do-er’ do?
When the closets have been cleaned and the laundry is folded and the lawn is mowed, what’s left but stillness? The forced acceptance of the world slowing down takes a toll on us ‘do-ers.’ But then Jesus comes. Jesus rides in and reminds me what it means to be still; He’s teaching me again how to receive His love and His blessing more deeply. He loved us, His own, to the end, and this Triduum is all about coming back to the love that He has for us.
Sisters, in the stillness, I’m becoming His own again. I’m peeling back the layers of busy-ness and striving that cloud my vision, and I’m refocusing on the One who chooses me and loves me to the end. Sisters, given the choice, I wouldn’t choose this - I wouldn’t choose Triduum at home. But Jesus is using it to wash me clean and make me His own again. The question is - will I sit in the stillness and let Him? Will I rest in the quiet place and let Him make me His own once again? Will I be still and let Him wash my feet?
Father,
Thank You for centering us. Thank You for bringing us back. Thank You for blessing us - for bringing stillness and quiet back into our busy lives.
Father, teach us how to sit still, teach us how to be still with You and receive Your love and Your blessing. Teach us how to let You wash our feet. Slow our hearts and give us Your vision so that we can more deeply understand the gift You are to us this Triduum.
God, we love You. We’re so grateful to You for walking among us - all for Your love of us. Teach us to believe in Your love. Amen.