Precious in God's Sight

Most of the time it is very easy for me to see how others are truly Precious in God’s Sight.  Quite frequently, there are moments when I am given a glimpse of the overwhelming love God has for the people who cross my path…the elderly man who is bent over his cane, and comes in with a slow shuffle to the first pew at daily Mass, the gentle compassionate woman who accompanies him, a mother staring with awe into the eyes of her newborn child, the unbridled excitement of a student who has mastered a difficult task, a priest whose profound reverence for the True Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist edifies all who are at Mass… 

     

At such times, I am certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that God loves these people so very much, that they are indeed precious and beloved children of His.  I sense the tenderness, compassion, and love that I know must fill the Lord at the mere thought of one of His children.   

     
The much more difficult aspect of this truth that we are all Precious in God’s Sight is believing that I, too, am included among His beloved children.  Though He knows every sin I’ve ever committed, every time and instance when I’ve turned away, I am still Precious in God’s Sight.
     
I have trouble wrapping my mind around this notion.  I can see how and why Christ suffered and died to reconcile other people to the Lord, but I still am baffled at times as to why He would endure such torture for me. 
     
You and I belong to the Lord and are infinitely Precious in God’s Sight, because He created us in His image.  There is nothing we can do to earn the Lord’s love or to make Him stop loving us.  There are a multitude of things we can do to experience and accept God’s love on a deeper level.  There are a myriad of things we can do to refuse God’s love and reject His grace, but not even those actions will cause the Lord to stop loving us.  It’s virtually inconceivable for an action-oriented, results-driven person like me to accept that my mere existence glorifies God.  I can think of a number of people in my life who I am sure glorify and bring delight to the Lord just by their existence, but I often feel it’s hardest to accept that’s true of me, too. 
    
Dear Lord, please bless all of us on our spiritual journeys.  Help us open up our hearts so that the Holy Spirit is able to move freely in and through us to bring others closer to You.  Sanctify our minds, bodies, and spirits, so we are strong, holy vessels for Your word, love, and Truth.  Give us peace that passes all understanding, a sense of deep, unquenchable joy, and a profound trust in You.  Guide us to choose Your will in all areas of our lives.  Show us how precious we are to You, and grant us the ability to see ourselves and others through Your loving eyes.  Amen. 

Note to Reader: This reflection was written in honor of the participants of the Women's Cursillo Weekend taking place May 19-22, 2011 at the Abbey and first appeared in the May 2011 Edition of the Rooster Review.  Please keep all of them in your prayers.