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How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news, Announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, saying to Zion, “Your God is King!” —Isaiah 52:7 NAB
Okay, I'll admit it. I drove up the mountain to get this photo. But what spurred my ascent was the desire to cheer on my son who was competing in a triathlon which finished with a run up the mountain!
Ascending a mountain on foot requires muscle, grit, and sweat. But when we reach the top, we have a story to tell!
The early church fathers used muscle, grit, sweat, blood, and tears to lead the way for Christians today. Most of us can easily drive to church to worship or open a Bible to read God's word for a mountaintop experience. I for one, am grateful to those who sacrificed their reputations and lives to make this possible.
Standing atop the mountain of Christian faith, we can proclaim that God indeed is king and can recognize those who led the way. We can look out upon the vistas afar, and wonder what might come next. Hard climbing may be in our future, but we can trust that God will continue to make His message known through the ages.
PRAYER
Lord, thank you for those who blazed the trail for us. Thank you, also, for considering my feet beautiful as I journey forth today. Give me a voice to share Your good news no matter where I find myself.
QUOTE
Faith of the martyrs, living still
In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword;
oh, how our hearts beat high with joy
whene'er we hear that glorious word!
Faith of the martyrs, holy faith;
we will be true to thee till death.
—Frederick William Faber (1814-1863)
Interested in applying Visio Divina to the above devotion? For a five-minute Visio Divina exercise, go here and scroll down for music and instructions.
Lisa Livezey writes from Pennsylvania where she found her way to Rome via the Anglican Ordinariate. She is the author of Minding Mom: A Caregiver's Devotional Story (En Route Publishing) and contributes to the National Catholic Register, Guideposts books and devotionals, and more. Her weekly photo devotions found at lisalivezey.com/olivetree are viewed worldwide and utilized by Visio Divina prayer groups. Lisa is a wife, mom, and grandma, volunteers in church and civic settings, and serves on the executive team at Heart of the Father Ministries. She credits her husband with giving her name alliteration and sometimes on summer weekends can be spotted sailing the Chesapeake Bay alongside her spouse.
