Please Don't Be Seated

On a tour of a palace in Austria, weary from jet lag and endless walking, I longed to sit down in any chair I could find. But every chair in the palace was obviously a precious antique, richly embroidered and exquisitely upholstered. The very ornateness of the furniture seemed to forbid me to be seated.

A sense of unworthiness in the presence of great opulence is perhaps normal for one not accustomed to such luxury. Yet I supose one could grow to feel more at home if one actually inderited such a mansion and lived in it. I'm sure we won't feel so awkward and uncomfortable and out-of-place in our splendid celestial mansion - our heavenly inheritance that Jesus is now preparing for us. "In my Father's house are many rooms....I am going there to prepare a place for you....I will come back and take you to be with me that you may be where I am" (Jn 14:2-3).

Yet your sense of unworthiness in the presence of God himself will probably never diminish, for it is nothing more than profound reverence in the awesome presence of the Almighty. "I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down" (Ps 5:7). This would be fearful in itself, if that reverence did not entail an awareness of his incredible love for each of us that will excite our love in response. As earth-tourists on a wearying pilgrimage, let us anticipate resting in his embrace!

This excerpt is from the book One-Minute Meditations for Busy People, by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/video recordings can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408 or www.Catholicbooks.net