11 January, Monday – Nothing Better than the Real Thing

Monday of Week 1 in Ordinary Time

Heb 1:1-6
Mk 1:14-20

“He has spoken to us through His Son…”

Anyone who knows me will know that I have been a foodie for the longest time. For those who don’t, you would just have to take one look at me and realise that.

One of the foods which I love is the Vietnamese pho. I first tried it on our honeymoon in Australia when we got married some 20 plus years ago. I remember my then fiancee telling me, from the time we first met, about the flavourful broth, the freshness of the beef and the freshly cooked bean sprouts and mint leaves.

I began to look forward to the first time we got to eat this phenomenal food. I imagined how it would be like, but nothing really compares to the first time the noodles were put in front of me. No amount of words nor the most descriptive language could ever do it justice.

The Jews had only experienced God through the prophets, all of whom cajoled, warned, taught and spoke of the goodness of God. Yet, they were totally unprepared for the experience of Jesus. It was only by interacting with Him, in the daily encounters and conversations that people built a relationship with Jesus. In spite of all the collective knowledge, the learning (of our faith, and what it means to be Christian, of who God is) is actually through having a relationship with Him.

Ever since I was baptised about 30 odd years ago, I have tried hard to connect with God, through my readings and in my intellectualisation, all of which left me with the feeling that there was something still lacking.

And just like the actual act of eating the Vietnamese pho, I only began to experience what knowing Jesus was like when I set aside all my previous learnings and head knowledge and actually started to have a relationship with Him.

Nothing helps us know God like having a real encounter and relationship with Jesus. Brothers and sisters, let us continue to seek Him; to REALLY encounter Jesus.

(Today’s Oxygen by Paul Wee)

Prayer: Father, we pray that we will reach out and accept Your love for us; to truly experience the richness and depth of this love.

Thanksgiving: Thank You Father, for sending us Your Son, Jesus Christ, to show us how to live and how to truly love those around us.