Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter

“Then he removed him and raised up David as their king; of him he testified, I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish. From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’”

Paul makes a clear connection between God’s promises to the Israelites and the fulfillment of those promises in the person of Christ and the Church founded on Jesus’ teachings. Although we might not realize it, we too have been given promises by God through the New Covenant. He has promised to always be with us, to give us the graces we need to become good and faithful servants, and to save us from sin and death. In return for these things, He asks us to put our faith and trust in Him, to place our hopes in the gifts He has given us, to and to repent of our sins and do penance so that we can be as loving and merciful as God is to us.

Do we trust that God will provide and protect us? Do we place our hope in Him? Are we ready to amend out lives so that we can come to know, love, and serve God and His children to the best of our abilities?

O Lord, we want to be people after your own heart and to carry out your every wish.

Amen.