Seeking Him

A woman decided she wanted to take time in prayer, seeking God, a deep seated desire, and develop a richer relationship with Him. She wanted to choose a spot where she would consistently go to find God and rest in his presence. So, she chose to go to the park around the corner from her home early in the morning and spend time seeking God.  

The first morning she got there she saw the most glorious sunrise she had ever seen. So, this is what it’s like to be up this early she thought. And she waited and she waited and she waited. She turned to prayer with an earnest heart and cried out ‘Lord I desire to see you, come into my heart, show me your presence in a real way.’ She sat in quiet contemplation for about another 20 minutes and with no sign of God she decided to go home. 

 The next morning when she arrived it must have been at the precise moment in time when the sun greets the day. The flowers awakening, shimmering in the sun, the trees glistening in the morning light. She’d never experienced anything like this before. Must be a strange weather pattern passing through. Maybe it means rain. Again, she found her spot on the bench cried out to God asking for his presence, sat in quiet reflection for a few moments waiting for Him to appear to her. She waited and waited with anticipation, again no sign and she returned home. 

 The next day, not deterred, still hopeful, she again walked down to the park. There was a slight drizzle misting in the air. When she arrived at the park the skies opened up and a full-blown rainstorm started falling all around her. Of course, she had no umbrella, but she giggled as she was drenched in the morning rainfall. It reminded her of when she was a child and she and her sister used to dare each other to run outside in the rain from the safety of their covered porch. It brought the beautiful memory of her sister and a time gone by. The rain subsided as quickly as it hade come and there she sat, like a drowned rat on the bench and waited for God. She prayed ‘Lord why don't you come to me in a tangible way? I’m here every day praying for your presence.’ She was determined to continue her quest and returned the next day. 

 This day, the woman arose again hoping and praying she would see God this morning. So, she headed down to the park to her usual spot and began her seeking. A young teenager walked by with a backpack and two bags from the local bakery. He stopped and said to her ‘They made an error on my order and gave me an extra bagel would you like it? I'm not going to eat them both.’ She looked up at the youth and thought How kind, he must have a good mother. So, she took the bagel, thanked him, and wished him a good day. The bagel was fresh and warm and as she broke pieces off and ate them she savored the warmth and the nourishment they provided. She hadn't realized how hungry she was. Once finished she sat and waited and waited again for God. After about 20 minutes she went back home disappointed. 

 The next day she rose a little bit later in the morning and still determined to find God, made her way down to the park. She sat on the bench and saw a young mother pushing a stroller walking the family dog. This brought such a flood of wonderful memories reminding her of the days at the park with her young family. As the young woman approached the dog ran after a squirrel and came loose from her grasp. She turned to her and said, ‘Oh my goodness would you watch my baby for a moment while I get the dog.’ ‘Certainly!,’ I said. As I gazed upon the baby in the buggy she gave me the most glorious smile, a little giggle and I got lost in her beautiful blue eyes. The woman returned with a dog in hand thanked me profusely and went on her way. I sat and sat and waited and waited but again, no sign of God. 

 The next day was a bright beautiful Sunday morning. When she got to the park there was someone sitting on her bench. She thought about walking by but this person looked so lonely she decided to sit down next to him. ‘I haven't seen you here before’ she said to the man. He said, ‘I have been here all week.’ She said ‘Really? Me too! She said, ‘I come here to seek God but I haven't seen him all week, I am a bit frustrated I must admit.’ 

 As the man turned to her his face was kind and gentle and he said ‘But I've been here all week. Didn't you see me in the glorious sunrise I created just for you? Did you not see me in the shimmering flowers and the glistening trees? Did you not see me in the rain? Did you not see me in the kindness of a stranger? Did you not see me in the face of a babe?’ 

God is all around us always. Jesus shows himself to us in the many beautiful creations of God our creator. It is only when we take time, pause, stop the daily busyness and tune into his frequency we find what we are seeking. He is speaking to us always, loving us always, in our presence always.

Christ our neighbor

When Christ reveals himself to us - in that revelation - he shows us who we are in his humanity and who we could be in his divinity. We are called to become more like Jesus on our journey through this lifetime. In the Good Samaritan reflection by Pope Benedict he shares that this story is more than a story..it is a history. One of mankind half dead, beaten and stripped, left for dead on the side of the road. Alienated, unloved, soul wounded. 

Yes, the priest and Levite walk by-"from earthly history alone, from its cultures and religion alone, no healing comes." The assault victim is you, it's me, it's Everyman and the Samaritan can only be Jesus Christ. The image of God once thought so distant now here in the flesh to comfort, nurture and heal his wounded creature. God has made himself neighbor in his son Christ - through whom all things are rightly ordered, put back together, united in Him. Only when we have this heart connection can we offer it to another, to love one another, as He has loved us.

Feast day of St. Bernard

Humility is the word of the day. St. Bernard said "What we love, we shall come to resemble." Both good and bad. If we love to gamble we will resemble financial ruin. If we love to eat we will resemble gluttony. Everything, both good and bad taken to the extreme without humility and prudence can be detrimental to our health and well being, both physically and spiritually. Love justice and resemble fairness. Love neighbor and resemble charity. Love serving and resemble Christ's hands and feet in the world. Love and serve in humility - so all our works are not done just to "be seen" and favored among men, but for the Lord to know, and see, and prepare our reward in heaven.

Lord Help Me Hear

 

San Pietro in Vincoli

Lord, Help Me Hear

     I spotted him out of the corner of my eye, his shock of white hair unmistakable. He was hunkered down in the last row notebook in hand. The years had been kind to him, or so it appeared. As I went to find my seat I remembered fondly the many wonderful, albeit sometimes long homilies this retired priest shared with our parish family.  Several years ago this parish was in a tough transition. A beloved pastor called to a new assignment by the bishop, a new pastor installed coming in on the trails of this loss, never really  had a chance. So there we were, a church without a priest, sheep without a shepherd. Fr. Padavick stepped in many weekend masses to shepherd us and we were so very grateful.

    As we walked out I happened to see him in the sacristy.

“Hello Father, great to see you.” I greeted him knowing he would have no idea who I was. He placed a hand to his ear and I repeated louder.

“Hi Father, great to see you, are you still preaching?”

“Me? Oh no no,  I’m deafer than a doornail, can’t hear anymore.”  He shared with that twinkle in his eye, the light of Christ still very much active in him.

“Wow that’s too bad, we sure did enjoy your homilies”, he thanked me and we went on our way after pleasantries’.

    That was the last I thought of it until today, and the readings for today. If he was deafer than a doornail, what was he doing in church one might wonder. How much could he get out of it? As I pondered on this at mass I remembered when my husband and I had the good fortune to travel to Italy a few years ago. The first thing we did after checking into the hotel was wandered up this staircase to a huge church and entered to take in the beauty of this magnificent church. There was a mass going on in one of the small chapels, so we gravitated over to the pews. Naturally the mass was in Italian, and we couldn’t understand a word, but we knew exactly what was going on through the ritual. Prayer, response, pause, kneel, stand, communion, all this ritual almost exactly the same in any Catholic church around the globe. We discovered later it was St. Peter in Chains. (San Pietro in Vincoli)

    You could have just as easily asked us why did you stay if you didn’t understand the language? Mostly because the mass isn’t just heard, it’s prayed. It’s amazed me to think that a man who could not hear perhaps heard more than those that could. He heard with his heart, and after years of obedience he knew not to turn his back to God, even in his losses. What a wonderful witness and great reminder to me, to be ever open to the word of God. Even and especially if I can only hear it in my heart.

God the Grower

 

    So many times as a wife and mother (or anyone for that matter) we wonder if our words fall on deaf ears. The sheer volume of things we say on a daily basis can be mind boggling. Yet we must have faith, that these seeds we are planting will at some point reach fertile soil and bring fruit in due season. We must remember we only do the planting but God does the growing.

One of the best opportunities I had to explain this was to my grandson last summer. Our community has a community garden and we decided to try our hand at growing some produce. Some of the things we planted were root vegetables, their growth not clearly visible. I was able to share the lesson that just because we don't directly see something doesn't mean God's not working on it. Just like our words, he will make sure the message of our heart achieves His purpose in His timing. It brought back memories of my own sons gardening experience. When he was about my grandsons age I let both he and my daughter choose what they wanted to plant in our garden. My daughter chose watermelon and my son chose potatoes. The whole summer he whined about his potatoes. Why is hers growing and not mine he would ask. Yours are growing under the ground. When it's time we will dig them up. At the end of the season we dug up those potatoes and enjoyed them as a side dish with dinner.

    Many times we complicate things. I’ve learned over the years to pare down the message, to focus on the most imperative point and let God do the rest. Today Jesus reminds us of this simplicity in His message to the disciples. The Our Father is the most important, most complete prayer. It is not the amount of words we use but the frequency with which we turn to God in all matters big and small throughout our days that matter.

Hearing Clearly

 In todays gospel Jesus opens the ears of the deaf mute. "Ephphatha!" he says, "Be Opened!"

If we don't hear clearly we can't speak well. Listening, truly taking in what another is saying is crucial... but not just the words, the inflection, tone, emphasis, even what's not spoken to be noticed. 

It reminded me of a skit years ago on Saturday Night Live. Emily Litella (Gilda Radner) went on a rant over all the fuss about violins on television.  "Why don't parents want their children to see violins on television?" she questioned. If violins come on only after 10 she says the little babies won't be able to hear them and have music appreciation.  She rants on and on until Chevy Chase, the news anchor, explains it's violence, violence on television. She stops and says well that's different, never mind. 

To speak well we must hear well and Jesus grants the deaf man both healings, understanding the importance of both.

Lord open my ears to truly hear what it is you are trying to reveal to me. Free my tongue from my bounds, the sin of my own wagging tongue and place your healing touch on my words.

Let them speak of your truth and your love.