We go to sleep at night filled with an abundance of worries and fears and then awake to a new day filled with hope and joy….

“Behold.” What a beautiful, colorful, strong word. It’s a sentence in itself. Just saying that one word writes a complete paragraph. We don’t hear it said in the middle or the end of a sentence. “Behold” is always the first word to express something wonderful, scary, or a feeling needing to say that one word – “Behold.”

“The curtain’s been lifted.” What was not known is now known. In faith, it also means embracing the unknown while the unknown remains a mystery. “Behold.” It startles you to say it and it startles those around you.

So, go ahead. On your next elderly birthday, before your feet hit the floor in the morning, you now know the spiritually impacted word to begin that new year. Yell it out, “Behold.”
I had a “behold” this past week. Biden has government documents tucked away as does Trump. That’s the scary part of that single word. Then where’s FRD’s government documents housed?
“This is your dinner bill,” says the server. Because you see, using “this” at George Webb’s makes perfect sense. At a fancy restaurant, however, the server would accurately proclaim, “Behold, here’s your dinner bill.” Car repairs? “This” or “Behold?” You be the judge.

It’s a relatively new word used in the Catholic Mass, replacing the word (ready for this!) That’s the word – “This.” Sound like a good change from this unchanging Church? When the priest raises the host and chalice which word best captures and holds your breath, “Behold” or “This”? No vote needed.
John the Baptist says it to all of us – both in his time and now during our time, “behold.” Mary can’t think of a better word to announce her pending birth. (I think just seeing a wide-winged angel standing in your living room alarms you enough to hear that word in your head.)

A strong prayer always said is, “Humble but also empowering.” That’s the definition of that word that I won’t bore you with saying it again. It reminds us and alerts us to remember the Giver of this feast called life. Then our Creator empowers us to face any difficulty with the peaceful presence of God in our lives.

A peaceful and restful sleep awaits us because of the power of that one word. Our tomorrow is now the new endeavor of a new day lived within that believable one word.

Underused? You bet. Felt? You bet. I’ve never used it myself in conversation, and I’m confident none of you have. As the adage goes, “Before you go to bed tonight, use it in a sentence today, and it will surely be your own.” That’s your homework assignment.

Proudly use that one word sometime today and see what happens. Whatever the content, it will truly moves and empower you and then inspire those who hear it.

“This and that” is the response when asked, “What did you do today.” “Behold” is the epiphany presented to you, and “beheld” is what you tightly clung to your entire life.