One of the most remarkable things I have discovered during my years as a priest is how the Word of God infiltrates everything and everywhere in my life. I know that this has always been the case but I was blinded to it or took it for granted for much of my life in not recognizing His voice in my life. A great example came on Saturday afternoon of the St. Lucy Parish Fun Fest. I was visiting at the adult watering hole talking to the person pouring the drinks. He asked what was the Gospel for the weekend, actually what he asked was, “What was the lesson for the service?” When I told him it was the Gospel of the Ten Lepers his eyes lit up. We began a wonderful conversation about the reading and eventually about the reality of seeking and knowing Jesus. He told me that for many years he thought the one leper who returned had disobeyed Jesus because he was told to see the priest. Then he leaned in and said, “but he did see the priest because Jesus is the true priest and he knew where the source of true healing was to be found.”
Listening to his excitement in hearing this Word opened my eyes to another understanding. Full disclosure, it didn’t change the homily that I had prepared for the weekend, but it did put my mind on a train of thought towards the blessings that God shares with us in what we say and do in the world. It is a reminder that during this Jubilee Year of Mercy that each of the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy are founded in the abundant and generous love God pours upon each and every person created in His likeness. We can feed the hungry but unless we recognize that true hunger is only satiated in God then physical hunger will never be fully satisfied. We counsel the doubtful realizing that it is only in the growing in faith and knowledge of God that doubt is truly replaced by confidence and trust in the grace that surrounds us. We can bear wrongs patiently and yet it is only through the offering of forgiveness and seeking reconciliation in an all-merciful and compassionate Father that the healing into true unity and love are brought about.
Which is a long way around the path to get back to the original point, the presence and blessing of God in each moment of our life. St. Peter is his First Letter reminds us to be prepared, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Pt 3:15) And it is with “gentleness and respect” that true conversion in conversations of love become more and more apparent. It is also true that we must know the person of Jesus to be prepared to give witness to our beliefs and practices of the faith. When we are able to look into our lives, with the eyes of faith, we begin to see and understand the omnipresence of God in every moment, whether in joy or suffering, in praise or persecution, we are aware that God holds us in the gentle embrace of love.
This is the challenge we face, to seek God in all things. We can and do become complacent in our relationships, where we begin expect good things rather than appreciate and give thanks the small and large blessings given and shared each day. Looking for God is not hard and believe it or not you will find Him in the most interesting places.
God Bless
Fr. Mark