In the past few weeks, I have not shared my reflections with you because I have focused on publishing my study with ProQuest. In those moments, I paused several times to appreciate how special I am in God’s eyes. This experience is not merely a feeling; it is real, and I have encountered the truth repeatedly in recent days. God loves me, and I have many reasons to speak of that love to anyone willing to listen.
The awareness of God’s love for me came alive again as I reflected on this weekend’s liturgical readings (Exodus 19:2-6a; Romans 5:6-11; Matthew 9:36-10:8). I found myself drawn to Moses, Paul, and our Lord Jesus, as though they were reminding me of my journey to the United States – helpless at times, like a sheep without a shepherd, yet guided by God toward freedom and fulfillment.
I understand that God did not promise me a path without challenges, but I could not always foresee how the journey would unfold to the present. From taking classes, serving my community in different capacities, including as a parochial vicar, chaplain, and other support roles in parishes and institutions, selecting my dissertation topic after a marathon of graduate courses, conducting research, defending and graduating, to submitting my work for publication, each step has shown me that God has been present with me all along. And HE is not finished yet!
The Psalmist proclaims today (Psalm 100:1–2, 3, 5. V.3c) that “we are His people, the sheep of His flock.” This truth holds for all who have God as Shepherd (Psalm 23), and I hope you find in this passage the same source of encouragement that you are not alone in your struggles. You have God and others walking alongside you. As we often say, “One with God is a majority,” and that is where you should stand as you reflect on this weekend’s liturgical celebration.
