SAINT FIDELIS OF SIGMARINGEN, PRIEST AND MARTYR (OPTIONAL MEMORIAL)

Whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.

You have probably heard someone say, “There’s more to him than meets the eye.” Perhaps you assume someone at the hospital is a medical student but discover that she is a top-notch surgeon. Or maybe someone is so quiet in a meeting that you think he isn’t even paying attention, but then he proposes a solution that answers everyone’s concerns. Some people just go beyond our initial expectations!

The Gospels are full of examples of the way Jesus surprised people by surpassing their initial expectations.
• They came to him expecting a learned teacher, but rather than giving a theological exposition, he offered parables. These everyday examples allowed each person to find himself in the stories.
• They came to him weighed down by sin, expecting little more than words of comfort. But his words carried the power to heal both spiritual and physical illness.
• They came to him with a simple request, expecting some help. But he responded by answering their need and by giving them a life-changing revelation of the Father’s love for them. Instead of getting just an answer to their prayer, they began to love Jesus and sought to put aside their former way of life to follow him.

When someone stayed with Jesus long enough, they saw beyond his unassuming appearance. They saw that he was more than a teacher or a healer or a prophet. His words of teaching, his look of love, his inner peace and joy all bore God’s own inspiration and went straight to their hearts. When they saw Jesus, they saw the Father!

Jesus is ready to surprise you today. He’s ready to reveal his Father to you. So as you read today’s Scripture passages, invite him to exceed your expectations. Ask him to show you something new. It doesn’t have to be momentous. Maybe it will be just a small insight or application you haven’t noticed before. Or maybe one verse will strike you in a new way. If you keep this up day after day, you’ll discover that God has revealed far more than you expected. And that revelation will fill you with joy!

“Lord, surprise me! Help me find your presence today.”

Acts 12:24–13:5
Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8
John 12:44-50