God’s Presence Everywhere All the Time
Remember the joke about the little boy who was afraid to get the broom out of the dark closet for his mom? She assured him, “Don’t be afraid. God is everywhere.” So the little boy cracked open the closet door a little and called in, “Hey, God, would you hand me the broom!” Catholic Vitamins is a podcast that presents topics following the alphabet. Last week I spoke on U for the Ubiquity of God. (You can listen to this talk on www.catholicvitamins.com. It’s in the second half of the program.) Ubiquity was a pleasant topic because God’s omnipresence is a comforting attribute. We are never alone because God is constantly with us, and so we needn’t feel lonely or be afraid. God says in Isaiah 41:10, “Do not fear, for I am with you. . . I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (more…)
Tapping into Gifts
For years, decades actually, I’ve been trying to learn Spanish. One discouraging drawback is that I couldn’t roll my “r’s.” Nothing I was told or read on the Internet helped. Then last week, without even giving it a thought, I pronounced the word for “guitar,” and the “r’s” rolled! It was not at all how I thought it was done. This achievement gives fresh impetus to my mastering Spanish. It also made me feel very good about myself. Writing a novel for the first time last year had the same effects. Now I’m wondering what other new, surprising things await me on my life’s journey. Maybe I’ll learn to swim! (more…)
Thank God for Light!
Now that spring is approaching, the days are growing longer. Hooray! No more getting up and going to church in the dark. The Gospel of John opens by calling Jesus the light of the human race. Jesus identifies himself as the light of the world. I can see why. The other night I was driving on a highway in an unfamiliar car. In the dark I had a hard time seeing the lanes…until another car flashed its lights to let me know I didn’t have the lights on. Jesus is the light for our life’s journey. He shows us the way to go and keeps us from crashing.
Light happens to be my favorite image for God. It has qualities that remind me of God. Light is mysterious. We still don’t know if it is waves or particles. If you’ve ever marveled at the night sky filled with stars or at a city landscape decorated by night lights, you know that light is beautiful. That is why we string lights on our Christmas trees and set candles on our dining room tables. Light is also comforting. Ask any child who can only sleep with a nightlight on, or recall a time when the lighted windows of your home as you approached it gave you a warm, cozy feeling. Light enables us to see truth. It lets children see that the monster in the bedroom is really only the vacuum cleaner. It helps us read and gain knowledge. Cartoonists show that an idea has dawned by drawing a light bulb over a person’s head. Light means serenity, safety, and security. Lighthouses warn ships at sea of dangerous rocks. We keep flashlights handy in case the power goes out.
No wonder Jesus told us to let our light shine. By bringing his life and truth into the world, we help dispel the darkness and gloom. We guide others in making a safe journey.
You might light a candle today and reflect on the ways God is light for you.
How have you been light for others? How can you be in the future?
What is your favorite image for God?
Ash Wednesday and Evangelization
A mom once told me that her four-year-old came home from school on Ash Wednesday with ashes on his forehead. When she asked, “Who gave them to you?” he said, “God.” “And what did God look like?” she asked. “Well, he wore a purple dress and had white hair,” the boy responded. Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday are said to be the two days most Catholics go to church— because they get something.
The tradition of being marked with a cross on Ash Wednesday is longstanding. (Remember how in the book of Jonah even the livestock wore ashes as a sign they repented?) In the old days, ashes on Ash Wednesday was a reminder that we will die someday, so we better shape up during Lent. Today the person administering the ashes is likely to say, “Go and be faithful to the Gospel.” We are sent to witness to the Gospel, and all those who are marked with the black cross (or smudge) are witnessing to their faith in Jesus. Some people wash the mark off right away. My friend, who is a clerk in a supermarket, dared to keep hers on at work. She wasn’t sure if it was an infraction of the dress code or not. Her boss said nothing about it. But the people who came through her aisle did. Whenever someone asked about the mark on her forehead, she had an opportunity to share her faith.
Of course, outward signs like ashes are not the important thing. Jesus scolded the Pharisees for the wide phylacteries on their foreheads and their long tassels. Why? Because their actions contradicted what they purportedly stood for. How great it would be if we attracted attention not because of our ashes, crucifixes, religious tattoos, or veils, but because of our good deeds, our kindness, our generosity, our bravery. Those of us who are not so much Gospel (good news) people as bad news now have six weeks to work on a complete makeover.
What can you do this Lent to witness to Jesus by your actions?
God of Surprises
Long ago a woman sent me a letter in which she shared a thought-provoking experience. She said that one day in church she was overcome with sadness and began to cry. To her distress, she discovered that she didn’t have a single tissue with her. She turned to the woman seated beside her, a stranger, and asked if she had a Kleenex she could have. The pew partner opened her purse and took out a lovely lace handkerchief. She handed it to the weeping woman and said, “Keep it.” This incident led the woman to reflect on times when she asked God for just a “Kleenex” and he gave her a “lace handkerchief.” (more…)
