Recognizing God

     The next sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy; and blaspheming, they contradicted what was spoken by Paul. Then both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, ‘It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life, we are now turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
“I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles,
   so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” ’ (Acts 13: 44-47)

If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’ (John 14:7)

Today's readings present us with an interesting problem. The God of the universe desires to make His presence known and experienced by people who keep putting their fingers in their ears, making it impossible for them to hear Him. They keep closing their eyes, making it impossible for them to see Him. Throughout the texts of Revealed Salvation History, God has attempted to overcome the handicaps and surmount the barriers of His Chosen People. The Holy One made use of signs and wonders and eloquent prophets. Despite His dauntless efforts, the people refused to hear the voice of God and did not recognize His Presence among them. The Sacred Scriptures recount how the descendants of Adam and Eve had not walked in company with God; had not cared for one another; had not acted as if they were created in the image and likeness of God.

They looked at the beauty and grandeur of creation and did not acknowledge their Creator. They forgot that they were created to tend creation in company with God Who is the source and summit of all that exists. Rather than tending the garden entrusted to them, they abused it and its resources for their own sordid purposes. To refresh our own memories, it might be helpful to ponder these few lines taken from the second chapter of the Book of Genesis.  "Such is the story of the heavens and the earth at their creation. At the time when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens-- while as yet there was no field shrub on earth and no grass of the field had sprouted, for the Lord God had sent no rain upon the earth and there was no man to till the soil, but a stream was welling up out of the earth and was watering all the surface of the ground-- the Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being" (Gen. 2: 4-7). We were made to possess the breath of the Spirit and to reflect the grandeur of God.

Even though we cannot see God, He sees us. No matter how intently man looked at the wonders of creation. he failed to recognize the hand of its Creator. God seeks us out even before we can identify the object of our deepest longing. Because He desired to be found, the Master of the Universe chose to become a man and dwelt among us. He took to himself our infirmities and once again breathed upon us His life-creating Spirit. By rising from the dead, He transformed our sin-hardened hearts into hearts of flesh that could love and show compassion. The glory of God shined on the face of Christ. Through His Passion, Death and Resurrection, Christ manifested the Father's love for the human race and made all who believed in Him heirs of the Kingdom. Let us entrust ourselves to the love and will of God and thus come to know the blessings of a life hidden with Christ, in God. When Christ our life appears, may we appear with Him in glory.

Father Jerome Machar, OSCO