While praying with a passage from the book of Malachi (3:1-4) I was captivated by one sentence in particular. He will sit refining and purifying silver. As I read the whole paragraph slowly, time and time again, the Holy Spirit lead me back to this sentence. Stirred, I sat quietly and allowed my thoughts to prayerfully play.
I imaged Jesus as the he. Rather than refining and purifying, I thought of polishing silver. And the silver became silverware.
For me, the scene turned into Jesus sitting and polishing silverware. I came to understand the silverware as all people on earth.
In my mind’s eye I could envision Jesus rubbing on spoons, knives and forks of all different sizes. He gave each utensil special attention.
I thought of Jesus as polishing our sins away with each swipe of the cloth. I equated the application of silver polish as offering us the Sacraments. To me the polish was bread, oil, wine and water. Every time Jesus puffed his breath to shine a piece, it was as if he was breathing the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus was done polishing the silverware, he carefully put everything away. Each utensil had its own special place in the velvet and silk lined case.
Here are some of the gems I mined from this time of prayer.
- Jesus cares for each of us in a special way.
- Jesus takes a hands-on approach with every person.
- Each of us is unique.
- We come in different shapes and sizes.
- We were all created for a special role to play in this world.
- We have different gifts and talents.
- Despite our uniqueness we all fit together and can exist side by side.
- Each of us belongs in the Kingdom of God and each has a safe place.