day after the annunciation

Exodus 32:7-14; Psalm 106 Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people; 5:31-47 

In psalm this morning we read, "Our fathers made a calf in Horeb and adored a molten image; they exchanged their glory for the image of a grass-eating bullock."

What was the glory they exchanged?

Their glory was the presence of God who made himself known, who journeyed with them, who led them from slavery into freedom.  Their glory was the pillar of fire at night and pillar of cloud during the day.  Their glory was the wonders God had worked for them, with them, through them. 

Yet, they threw it all away.  They had every reason to believe and yet they were too busy building and alibi not to believe. 

Jesus tells us in Jn 17:22 in his prayer for all believers, "I have given them the glory you gave me."

We, like the Israelites have every reason to believe.  But like the Jews in the gospel today we have a choice to make.  Will we search for evidence against God, building our alibi not to believe or will we allow His glory to convince us and lead us deeper into belief?

the mindset that seeks reason to doubt will disbelieve.

The mindset that sees reasons to believe on a daily basis is the mindset that has truly embraced the glory given!  Everything becomes a reason to belief and leads to deeper faith.

Today is the day after the celebration of the Annunciation of the Lord to Mary, to the World.  I wonder what is was like for Mary the day after.  Did she dismiss the experience as a dream?  Did she hide? Did she convince herself it was all a lie?  No!  She picked up her things and took the message to Elizabeth.  Only in carrying the message forth do we truly activate the faith we have received.  Only in bearing the good news in us, do we truly begin to believe ourselves. 

"Whoever acknowledges me before men, I too will acknowledge him before my Father who is in heaven."

Let us a build a case for belief by living as believers.