Advent Day 19: Read: Luke 19

Is what you see in the mirror an accurate reflection of who you are?

This chapter begins with Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus. He is a tax collector, despised by other Jews because he worked for the Romans. Jesus goes to his house for dinner anyway. The Pharisees and religious people say he is a “notorious sinner.” Jesus says he is a “true son of Abraham.”

Richard Rohr in “Preparing for Christmas: Daily Meditations for Advent” says it like this: “I always say that I will take God’s kind judgment of me any day over my usually harsh judgment of myself. I will take God’s image of me any day, which is always patient and merciful, over my neighbor’s rashly formed image of me. God always sees his son, Jesus, in me, and cannot not love him! (see John 17:22-23). This is a solid and enduring self-image–no up and down anymore.”

Who or what is defining your self-image today? God’s words about you or the world’s crushing words about you?

No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.

John 5:44

I needed to hear this today! Thanks for letting me be a part of your day in this way!