He Understands
October 18, 2024 at 2:43 p.m.
A Gospel Reflection for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
As people, we have a deep desire to be understood. We seek out music, hobbies, and friendships for this purpose. Our hope is to feel seen through them and find some sense of belonging. Although these things may come close, they fail to fully grasp what we experience deep within us.
Jesus, however, does understand. In the second reading, St. Paul points out that Jesus took on human flesh. He lived a life just like us with all of its difficulties and limitations. He was like us in all things, “yet without sin”.
Now, why would Jesus leave heaven and subject Himself to the same experiences we have? It’s quite simple. He did it so you could never say, “You have no idea what I’m going through”. He lived a life on Earth just so that He can understand you more deeply.
There is nothing we can go through that Jesus hasn’t experienced. He felt alone and scared. His emotions overtook Him to the point of weeping. His pain reached the point of agony. Have you been betrayed by your friends? Have you lost a loved one? Have you been bullied? Jesus has too.
Jesus’ experience was not limited to pain and suffering. He also experienced joy as we do. He felt love and happiness. His anticipation for future events reached the point of excitement. Have you been to a party? Have you gone on out to eat with your friends? Have you been to a festival? Jesus has too.
Ultimately, we are not left to fend for ourselves. Jesus walks through life with us and is there to guide us through our ups and downs. We can trust Him because He knows personally what we’re going through. He has been through every situation and responded perfectly to them.
Take some time this week to think about those things in our lives that we believe no one understands. Go to Jesus with them, “to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help”.
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A Gospel Reflection for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
As people, we have a deep desire to be understood. We seek out music, hobbies, and friendships for this purpose. Our hope is to feel seen through them and find some sense of belonging. Although these things may come close, they fail to fully grasp what we experience deep within us.
Jesus, however, does understand. In the second reading, St. Paul points out that Jesus took on human flesh. He lived a life just like us with all of its difficulties and limitations. He was like us in all things, “yet without sin”.
Now, why would Jesus leave heaven and subject Himself to the same experiences we have? It’s quite simple. He did it so you could never say, “You have no idea what I’m going through”. He lived a life on Earth just so that He can understand you more deeply.
There is nothing we can go through that Jesus hasn’t experienced. He felt alone and scared. His emotions overtook Him to the point of weeping. His pain reached the point of agony. Have you been betrayed by your friends? Have you lost a loved one? Have you been bullied? Jesus has too.
Jesus’ experience was not limited to pain and suffering. He also experienced joy as we do. He felt love and happiness. His anticipation for future events reached the point of excitement. Have you been to a party? Have you gone on out to eat with your friends? Have you been to a festival? Jesus has too.
Ultimately, we are not left to fend for ourselves. Jesus walks through life with us and is there to guide us through our ups and downs. We can trust Him because He knows personally what we’re going through. He has been through every situation and responded perfectly to them.
Take some time this week to think about those things in our lives that we believe no one understands. Go to Jesus with them, “to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help”.