Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière (5): Jesus’ Message

God’s coming to our world in as a human baby was totally unpredictable. It seems wise to always be open to God’s breaking into our world and lives in unanticipated ways.

My Prayer:

Teach me to learn to embrace the unexpected. May I become more sensitive to how You are at work–especially when I’m sure I know how You might appear or act.

Scriptural Touchstones:

The book that Jesus holds has the words OMNIS VALLIS IMPLEBITUS, a Latin reference to Isaiah 4:4 and Luke 3:5.

…the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.  He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low.The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’” Luke 3:3-6 (NRSV)

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.
A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” Isaiah 40:1-5 (NRSV)

Invitation to Prayer:

Consider how Jesus might be blessing you in an unexpected way. Are you resisting because of preconceived ideas about God? What prayers are emerging in your mind, heart, body, and imagination? Pray them now.

Photos:
Jesus holding an open book with the scriptural message, “Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low.”  The twelfth-century stained glass window known as Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière (1180) at Chartres Cathedral, France.

Other posts in this series:

(1) Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière: Beauty
(2) Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière: Iconic Love
(3) Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière: Seeing and Being Seen
(4) Notre Dame de la Belle Verrière: Jesus, Mary’s Son