Come and See

“Come, and you will see.” These words were spoken by Jesus to Andrew and the other disciple with him. He also speaks these words to us. He beckons us to come to him to see all that he has to offer us. No matter where we are in life, no matter what we have done in the past, God calls us to himself. If we are weary, he offers us rest. If we are grieving, he offers us comfort. If we have strayed and are in the depths of sin and darkness, he offers us forgiveness and light to lead us out of the darkness. If we are full of questions and doubt, he is the Truth. Even if we feel that we are at a good place in our lives right now, that we have our eyes on Christ and are walking in righteousness, he continues to call us to come and see. He knows how easy it is for us to get too comfortable in our lives but there is so much work that needs to be done and so much to still be discovered.

There are so many people in our world living in darkness, who feel hopeless and alone. God wants to show us those in need. We are his hands and feet in the world today and so we need to go out and spread the gospel. Not only does God want us to see those in need, but there is also so much goodness to see. Our God is majestic and he wants us to see and experience things beyond our wildest imagination. He has great plans for us and wants us to come and see what he has in store.

Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. She was a wife and mother of five children.  Her husband became very ill, his doctors sent him to Italy for the warmer climate and it was there that he died. She was taken in by families of her late husband’s business partners and during this time was introduced to the Catholic faith. After returning to the United States she converted to Catholicism in 1805 at the age of 31. She established the nation’s first free Catholic school in Baltimore in 1808; in 1809 she established a religious community in Emmitsburg, Maryland dedicated to the care of the children of the poor. It was the first congregation of religious sisters to be found in the United States. She died at the age of 46 of tuberculosis and was declared a saint by Pope Paul VI in 1975. Look what God accomplished in those 15 years after her conversion! So, let us be open to God and answer his call to come and see.