The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
Last week I asked my buddies if they wanted to go on a walk. I wanted to go somewhere new, now for Kansas, that doesn't mean much, but I really wanted to explore. – So we were off, approaching not too far from where I live, we came upon this trailhead that journeyed in-and-out of the flint hills in the middle of Kansas.
There is nothing special about the path we were on. There's no magnificent waterfall or critters that roam the trial. To be honest, it was underwhelming; everything was dead, bland, and cold. Then at once we approached the highest point of our journey. Upon our summit we raised our eyes and saw the 9,950 miles of what makes up the largest tallgrass prairie in all of the Great Plains. Hills and valleys were as far as the eyes could see. At the golden hour of the evening; everything sparkled as liquid gold. It was larger than life to be immersed in the overwhelming prairie. Can you picture this? It was jaw-dropping beauty.
In our readings today we hear the words of John that highlight the Source and Summit of our faith, John 3:16. However, I want to highlight our second reading when Paul says in Ephesians 2:10, “you are the handiwork of God.” You are the workmanship of the Creator of the Universe. Stop. This is a BIG deal.
I see myself, and I see others at times as the “dead, bland, and cold” surfaces like I did when beginning my journey. But if I believe who God says He his, I must believe that I am who He says I am. – I am created in the image and likeness of God, AND I am the workmanship of God. There is a beauty in me that not even the most overwhelming of sunsets can possess. Likewise, there is a beauty in you that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, besides you. We have to go out, see, and be seen to extract the beauty that we all contain.
It’s a rush knowing that God has work for me to do, and He doesn’t want anyone else to do it for me. Do you believe this? Do you believe there is a specific, God-given mission you are to accomplish here on earth? Whether you believe it or not, it’s true.
God prepared good works for me in advance. Much like Jeremiah, you and I have been entrusted with a task! This is why we exist. Pray and explore. If God leads you on a journey with your own hills and valleys, make every day count. Be courageous, do not fear, take heart.
Jacob Bentzinger resides in Kansas City and has been an editorial and commercial photographer since 2016 and has been shooting for the Church since 2018. Jacob spends most of his time behind a camera or next to a cup of coffee...But not just any coffee — an iced americano. You can find him on Instagram or check out his website.