Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

How I bore you up on eagle wings and brought you here to myself. - Exodus 19:4b

Eagle wings. The Lord describes his own work in the most physical, tender image available - not the mighty arm of power but the wings that carry, the bringing-to-myself that is the whole goal of the journey. The destination is not the Promised Land. It is the Lord himself: I brought you here to myself.

You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. Before the Law is given, before any command is issued, the identity is named. You are already this. The commands that follow are the living-out of the identity already given, not the earning of an identity not yet secure.

His heart was moved with pity for them like sheep without a shepherd. The Sacred Heart is moved by what the eagle wings were carrying toward - the people God has been bringing to himself, now wandering without a shepherd. The harvest is abundant because God has been preparing it. The laborers are few because so many are watching rather than entering.

I bore you up on eagle wings and brought you here to myself. Name one way God has been carrying you this year - a moment of unexpected provision, an uncanny timing, a carrying you did not ask for. Give thanks for it specifically. Then ask: who am I being asked to carry?

Lord, you bore me on eagle wings and brought me to yourself. Let the gratitude for the carrying be the source of the compassion I offer to others. His heart was moved - let mine be moved too. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in you. Amen.