Reflections in Ordinary Time

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - August 7, 2005

The Lord said to Elijah, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the Lord; the Lord will be passing by.”

Then a strong wind tore at the mountains and broke the rocks into pieces before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire came a faint whispering sound. When Elijah heard this sound, he covered his face with his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.

1 Kings 19: 11-13

God in the Unexpected

Life would be so much easier if God would take all the guesswork out of things and just show himself once and for all. It would put an end to all the confusion about matters of faith and life - about whether he really exists or not, about what religion to practice or what church to join, about what is permissible to do and what is not. And while he is at it he could put an end to all wars, to all poverty and hunger and disease, and to all the injustice in the world.

But it doesn’t look like he will show himself anytime soon. I have to assume that since God is the one who created everything, he has his reasons for doing things this way. Since he knows everything, he must know what is best for us. I’m not about to question his judgment.

Apparently God thinks it is good for us to be in this world. I admit I have a hard time understanding why God created us for the sole purpose of loving us and then sent us here. He must think that we have to be separated from him for a while to really appreciate him, that we have to feel what it’s like to be without him in order to grow in love for him. I guess he thinks that we will benefit from spending some time on earth searching for him.

But God also knows how limited we are. He knows how easily we can be misled in our search for him. We find something that seems to satisfy our needs, and we settle on it and stop looking for more. But nothing less than God can fully satisfy us. And even though we don’t always recognize this, God knows it. So he keeps intruding into our lives, trying to get our attention, leaving tell-tale signs of his presence, and at times even giving us glimpses of himself.

God wants us to know that he is always with us, even during this time when we are living away from him on earth. We don’t have to look very far to find him. He is present in the place where we least expect him - in the real, everyday world where we live.

Today is not just another day. It is a day filled with the delightful grace of God. If I pay close attention to what happens around me today, I may be surprised by the unexpected. In some subtle, gentle way God may show himself to me and give me a glimpse of what‘s to come. That’s why I keep the faith.

Touch our hearts, help them grow toward the life you have promised.
Touch our lives, make them signs of your love for all.

- from the mass for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Read a reflection on ordinary time.