For years, though I had been a committed Christian and enjoyed what many call a truly personal relationship with Christ, I had not really internalized the thought that God desired me; that he wants and longs for a relationship with me. The idea seemed odd that the great and holy God of our universe would have any sense of personal longing for a relationship with any human, let alone one as broken as me. Some time ago, a breakthrough came as I meditated on Luke 22:15. He was speaking to the disciples at the last supper – he was preparing for his own death by communing with them. He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer;”

God earnestly desired to be with his disciples. He had no need to be with them, yet, in his great love, he still had a deep and compelling desire to be with them. I realized at that moment that he had that same desire for me. And, he has that same desire to be with you.

The next time you pray, sit or kneel silently before him – put yourself in the seat of one of the disciples – you are after all, one of his disciples. See him speaking to you. Hear him say to you – using your own name – “_________ I earnestly desire to commune with you, to be with you, to speak to you, to know you and have you know me.” The God of love is calling your name. He specifically brought you into existence in order to love you and to be loved by you. Take a moment to stop and listen to his call – you wont regret it.

Seek Him – Find Him – Follow Him

Dan

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Art for this post on His desire for you: Partial Restoration of Christ with the Host, Paolo da San Leocadio, fourth quarter of 15th century, PD-US author’s life plus 100 years or less, Wikimedia Commons.

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Dan Burke

Dan Burke is the past President and C.O.O. of EWTN's worldwide news network. He is presently the founder and President of the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation, which offers graduate and personal enrichment studies in spiritual theology to priests, deacons, religious, and laity in 90 countries and prepares men for seminary in over 40 dioceses. Dan is the author and editor of numerous books on authentic Catholic spirituality and hosts the Divine Intimacy Radio show with his wife, Stephanie, which is broadcast weekly on EWTN Radio. Past episodes can be found, along with thousands of articles on the interior life, at SpiritualDirection.com. In his deep commitment to the advancement of faithful Catholic spirituality, he is also the founder of Apostoli Viae, a world-wide, private association of the faithful dedicated to living and advancing the authentic spiritual patrimony of the Church. Most importantly, Dan is a blessed husband, father of four, grandfather of one—and grateful to be Catholic.