near and far
“Their heart is far from Me.” —Mark 7:6
I’m sitting ten feet from Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration, very near to Him. “You, O Lord, are near” (Ps 119:151). In Old Testament times, the Lord said to Moses, “Come no nearer” (Ex 3:5). To draw near God was to risk death (see Ex 24:2; Nm 1:51). Yet even in pre-Christian days, God was drawing His people close. “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him” (Ps 145:18). The psalmist could say: “To be near God is my good” (Ps 73:28).
Jesus came to earth and people could touch, see, and hear Him (1 Jn 1:1). He came to dwell among His people, to live among us (Jn 1:14). Yet even that proximity was not near enough for the Lord. He came even nearer to us in the Eucharist, to dwell within us (Jn 6:56; 17:23).
Perhaps we have grown accustomed to God’s nearness. We have a great need for the fear of the Lord (Is 11:2), so we can learn how to be close to the Lord without losing the awe of being in His presence. The prophet Isaiah warned: “This people draws near with words only and honors Me with their lips alone, though their hearts are far from Me” (Is 29:13; Mk 7:6).
Some may say that they feel God is far from them and does not care. However, if anyone has moved, it was not God (see Ps 139:7-10). Possibly those thoughts arise because the person has moved away from God. If we draw near to God, He will draw near to us (Jas 4:8, RNAB). “Draw near to God” (Heb 7:19).
Prayer: Jesus, You came to call those near and far (Eph 2:17). Bring me near to You through Your blood (Eph 2:13). “Draw me!” (Sg 1:4)
Promise: “Hear the statutes and decrees...that you may live.” —Dt 4:1
Praise: Praise Jesus, “the Resurrection and the Life” (Jn 11:25)!
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from August 1, 2024, through September 30, 2024. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio November 22, 2023"
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.