Speak Tenderly
Dawn @ the University of Notre Dame
Welcome to Word for the Week, the series in which I:
share my experience of hearing God’s Word in Mass last weekend,
explore what I believe the Lord is calling me to do about that Word, and
ask how this Word might impact your life, as well.
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(Originally written December 22, 2023)
Wow, we're at the tail end of the quickest Advent in history!!
Meanwhile, I'm reflecting back on the second Sunday of Advent. Our family was at our home parish, and the word that stood out to me was, "speak tenderly." It was instantly comforting.
From the beginning of Isaiah chapter 40:
Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end, her guilt is expiated; indeed, she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.
When I asked the Lord what he wanted me to do with this word last week, Jesus romanced my soul.
I anticipated that I would be the one who needs to speak tenderly. I definitely failed at that one, at least on one count. I definitely spoke harshly to our daughter when I needed to detangle her hair. In hindsight, I was taking out some insecurity I was feeling toward David.
Thankfully, she and I were able to talk through it and turn the situation around. But I missed the boat on that one.
Further into the week, I found the Lord was speaking tenderly to me. One example was after my final concert of the year. (Side note: yay!! What a year it's been! So grateful for this milestone!)
An ensemble of string players came to play prelude music for this concert, and they also agreed to play during the reception to follow the event. As I processed merchandise payments and signed autographs, their graceful harmonies filled my soul.
Jesus spoke tenderly through their songs.
The next morning, I went for a run through the campus of the University of Notre Dame. The sun was beginning to rise, and the historic buildings were aglow with Christmas lights.
One Christmas tree, on the second floor of a picturesque brick building, stopped me in my tracks. The golden array against the breaking of dawn flooded me with joy.
Jesus spoke tenderly through the lights.
I snapped a photo of the Christmas tree, and began to run once more. In my headphones, a new song began to play. "Fear is not my future, you are." The words were gloriously triumphant.
I felt totally electrified with faith and each step of my run became part of the celebration.
Jesus spoke tenderly through the swiftness of my feet.
Then I came to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. And I had the sense, interiorly, the Lord was asking me, "You, be the church!”
As I approached the massive wooden doors of the towering church, again, I heard those same words echoing in my heart, "You, be the church!"
My hand grasped the wrought iron door handle. It was locked. I grinned. I didn't need to step inside for Jesus to speak tenderly through the edifice.
No, He wanted to speak tenderly through me.
As I ran back out of the campus toward my rental car, I thought of how much I loved the music that I was listening to. (It's a long recording: around 14-minutes for one song!) Who could I share it with?, I thought.
"You, be the song!" The words filled my heart.
Jesus wanted to speak tenderly to others through the way that he fills me. I wouldn't need to play the song for others, per se. Jesus could play His own song, simply by His spirit in me.
How is the Lord speaking tenderly to you now? What beauty has stopped you in your tracks? Where is the gentle invitation of the Spirit through your physical senses?
If we find ourselves in a moment when we can't quite hear tenderness or we aren't able to extend it, let us pray, "Speak tenderly to my soul, Lord."
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