Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
I recently read the book Taste and See: Experiencing the Goodness of God with Our Five Senses by Ginny Kubitz Moyer. In the book, the author explores the idea of using our everyday experiences to seek and find God in our lives. Today’s gospel reading reminded me of the importance of using our senses to hear and see God, so we can follow Him as a disciple. By deepening our awareness of the world around us through our senses, we can become aware of God’s presence in the smallest details of our lives. Through these experiences we can come to know His love and compassion, and we are then empowered- by His grace- to go forth and share this love with others.
In the gospel reading, the blind man hears people walking by. Because he is listening and paying attention to what he hears, he finds out that Jesus is passing by him on the road. He calls out to Jesus and Jesus calls him to His side. When the blind man asks Jesus to see, Jesus grants him his sight. Now that he can see, the healed blind man is no longer restricted to being on the side of the road begging, but he uses his new gift of sight to see Jesus, and he joyfully follows Jesus on the way. The blind man’s faith, healing and joyful response lead other people to celebrate and give glory to God.
Just like the blind man, God speaks to us and invites us into life with Him through our daily experiences. Each one of us has a body that allows us to encounter God in the world around us. And yet, I know that there are many days that I miss out on so many caresses from God because I do not take time to notice. I suspect that my life is like many people- filled from sunrise to sunset with many activities and much to do. This story reminds me to slow down, take notice and be thankful for God’s revelation all around me. Here are a few points for reflection regarding each of the senses:
Sight- How often do you stop to notice the beautiful trees, the sun, the smile of another person, or even the mess all over the kitchen counter? God is there even in the things we find less “beautiful”. Do you think about what you choose to see- which books you read or which TV shows and movies you see? Can the choices of what we see influence our life and our faith journey with Christ? How can we see God in the tiny details of our daily lives?
Sound- How often do you sit quietly and just listen to the sounds of the world around you? How well do you use the gift of hearing to really listen to others when they speak to you? What things do you choose to listen to- what kind of music? How can we use our hearing to better hear God speak to us through nature and the voices of those around us?
Touch- How often do you notice the various textures of the things that surround you? The soft pillow that you lay on, the table that you use, the grass you walk on are all opportunities to experience the variety of our world in its many forms. How do you use your sense of touch to reach out to others? Do you use this gift to caress, to hug, to comfort, or do you use your touch in ways that cause harm or sorrow to others? How can we use the gift of touch to be the Hands of Christ reaching out to those around us?
Taste- How wonderful are the many flavors of the food that we partake? How often do you really savor what you are eating? Do you choose wisely the things that you consume- which foods and drinks you put into our body? Do you think about those who do not have food to eat? Can our sense of taste not only lead us to gratefulness for our blessing, but challenge us to do what we can to help those who are hungry?
Smell- Not often do we think of our sense of smell as a blessing, but this is amazing sense gives great richness to our lives. What would happen if we could not smell smoke to alert us to a fire? Our sense of smell also enriches the taste of the food that we eat. Even the smell of the skunk can remind us of God’s creation and the wonder of all its diversity. When you notice a smell, how can this help you be grateful for this sense, and find God’s imprint in the gift?
Today (and every day) take time to be more mindful of how you experience the world through your senses. Notice the particulars of your day and through reflection recognize God’s love and compassion. Can you hear Jesus in your experiences? Can you see Christ in all of creation that surrounds you? Once you have taken the opportunity to review all the ways that God has revealed Himself to you, be grateful and with renewed vigor stand up and follow Him on the way.
"Heavenly Father, You send us Jesus who lived as us experiencing life through the use of His senses. Send down Your Spirit so we can be free to use all of our senses to see, feel, taste, hear and smell You and Your creation around us. May we use all of these experiences to come to know You and Your love, so we can in turn use our gifts to share Your love with others. We pray this through Christ our LORD. Amen.'
- Marylynn Herchline