A friend of mine used to sign off her letters and cards to me with the words until the word of your life is fully spoken. I loved those words. In today’s Second Reading in 2 Timothy 4, this line leapt out at me: The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed. These are words that answer prayers lifted. These past six months the Lord has stood by me and given me strength so that the message of the Good News may be fully proclaimed. Our good God never leaves us to suffer alone.

We see how God’s divine intervention allows for miracles in Peter’s life in the First Reading from Acts 12. James has been martyred and Peter arrested. Herod places four squads of soldiers to guard him, binds him in chains and sets two soldiers beside him. He creates a fortress that God slips through anyway. An Angel of the Lord appears, taps him on the side to awaken him, releases his chains, and leads him to the city where he is free. Not many of us have angels doing such miraculous works for us but I wonder if we had eyes to see if we could fully proclaim our messages better.

Yesterday as I walked around my neighbourhood, I tried out my new camera–shooting mostly flowers. Suddenly I spotted this photo and stopped at the sight of these two triangles juxtaposed. I thought that was one of the coolest images I had seen all day. Perhaps it seems like an odd photograph but it made me wonder if God shows us simple things all days and we miss God at work. We forget that God is in all things, whispering, I AM is here. The message of God is around us in beauty and joy, longing to be heard and seen.

In the Gospel of Matthew 16, Peter sees the Fully-Proclaimed-Message that stands before him, responding to the question of who Jesus is with You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Peter had eyes to see and ears to hear the message, but like us he did not notice it at all times. To finish the race we must keep the faith. We must sharpen our vision and hearing. Our spirits must see. We can be entrusted with the keys of heaven even now. We can open the gates from time to time and catch a glimpse of heaven on earth. May we marvel at all that we are given as miracles every single day. May Angels appear in angles, circles, and squares and make us stop in our tracks and delight. Fight the good fight against the darkness. Step into the Light and rejoice. Proclaim a message that encourages others. Let the Lord be your strength. To God be the glory forever and ever.

How are you fully proclaiming the message? What miracles is God working in your life?

Peace,

Suzanne