"But I will be for her an encircling wall of fire, says the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst." Zechariah 2:9
In Harry Potter and the Halfblood Prince, Harry is attacked by gruesome enemies called inferi, kind of like zombies. Albus Dumbledore, the greatest wizard who ever lived, has been incapacitated because of an act of self-sacrifice and seemingly cannot help. As a multitude of evil creatures surrounds him, all hope seems lost for Harry. But then, unlooked for, Dumbledore arrives! As he twirls his wand, a giant circle of flame spins around them, repelling all threatening evil and saving Harry. The common thread of today's readings is that our God has shown up in history to protect and save us. Zechariah tells us God will be a "circling wall of fire" to protect us, and the Psalmist that "the Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock." But God didn't do it by magic! Instead, God showed up in history, with a real human body, and saved us by his self-sacrifice on Calvary. While we are often afraid of what can seem like multitudes of evil around us, we must repetitively remind ourselves that the Holy Spirit encircles us like wall of sacred fire, that Jesus has already saved us from eternal death, and the Father in heaven will not abandon us. And so we trust once more our shepherd, and we sing and rejoice in the saving power of our God.
What might I do to remind myself throughout my day today of the encircling power of God around me, and how might I serve as God's wall of protection around others today?
Jesus, I trust in you – be an encircling wall of flame to protect me, my family, and those most in need of you this day.
Today's Reflection is by:
Mike Buckler
Did you know...
A youth minister for 15 years, Mike enjoys a good cup of coffee, playing soccer with his kids, and always has three of four books "in progress." He serves in the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry and loves seeing God transform the lives of young people.
