Malaysian Plane, a Double Mystery
So far no one on earth can explain what happened to the Malaysian plane that disappeared somewhere over the ocean. This horrifying occurrence may forever remain a mystery. The shocking, sudden deaths of 239 people poses a greater mystery: why would God allow this to happen? I’m writing this on the feastday of St. Julie Billiart, the spiritual mother of our community, who incessantly proclaimed, “God is good.” How could a good, all-powerful God not prevent this catastrophe and others like it? Purportedly God loves us and regards us as his children. Does a good Father stand by and let his children suffer? If you expect me to offer an answer, I’m going to disappoint you. This age-old mystery of suffering has been tackled by many people far wiser than I. But no satisfactory answer has been given. Not even in the biblical book of Job does God give us an inkling into the mystery. The innocent, suffering Job is merely told in no uncertain terms that God is in charge of the universe, so who is he to question him. (more…)
Prayer with Five Senses
The other day as I prayed the Liturgy of the Hours, at the line “God himself will set me free from the hunter’s snare” suddenly I imagined myself in the woods with my foot caught in the sharp jaws of a trap. I felt the pain and the desperation. “Hmm,” I thought. “This is how I teach people to pray the Gospel stories, by putting themselves into the scene and letting all their senses come into play.” For some reason it never occurred to me to apply this method St. Ignatius promoted to other prayers too. (more…)
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?
