Friday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
As I was preparing to attend mass in-person for the first time since the pandemic began, I had a conversation with our 5-year-old about why I was looking forward to going to church. I explained that it was because I would get to see Jesus--I was actually looking forward to receiving Jesus in the Eucharist but decided that using the language of wanting to see Jesus was a little more on his level. Vincent’s response was on par with his interests, “I wish Jesus would come to our house so that I can see his powers…”; most things in his world revolve around superheroes and powers. I reminded him of our prior conversations about how Jesus’ greatest power is that of his immense love for us--he died on the cross out of great love.
Two items are striking to me coming forth from today's readings and my conversation with Vincent. The first is our longing to see Jesus. I have been longing for the opportunity to return to the Eucharist. The psalm speaks deeply to my heart, “I long to see your face, O Lord. Your presence, O LORD, I seek. Hide not your face from me; do not in anger repel your servant. You are my helper: cast me not off” (Ps: 27:8b-9). As we have adjusted in our home to “movie church”, as my kids like to call it, there has been a constant churning in my soul. This yearning grew each week, yet our trust in God and a further connection to the psalm provided great hope. “I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD” (Ps: 27:13-14). The most challenging part of the last few months has been the distance--from the Eucharist, people, community, relationships. Similarly, Vincent would really love to meet this Jesus guy that we talk about so much. For a later conversation, perhaps, I will venture into the realm that Jesus is in everyone around him--God is a part of each and every one of us and we experience his goodness in others daily.
The second implication from my conversation with Vincent was this expectation of powers from Jesus. The power of Jesus is found in his love--I imagine that Vincent might be expecting something more closely related to the powers of the PJ Masks or his new favorite show on PBS, Hero Elementary; none of which, I would argue, are impossible for God. In reading about Elijah’s experience today, God was not found in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire. He was found in “a tiny whispering sound.” How surprising, especially if we have an expectation of a strong, mighty, all-powerful God! As human beings, perhaps we have come to expect that power is shown in loud and flashy displays of strength. So, it is all the more fitting that God defies our expectations, challenges us to quiet our hearts and minds, and find Him in the ordinary whispers of everyday life. This reading reminds me to notice God’s power as I feel the wind, hear the wind chimes and chirping birds, smell the flowers or fresh-cut grass and to delight in these seemingly ordinary and usual occurrences. It feels all the more important today, as we are surrounded by noise, loud voices, hatred, and disdain to take a step back and recognize God’s powers in the tiny whispering sounds.
We pray that our hearts may always long for God and that we may always find His presence around us.
Abundant Blessings,
Brandon Meyer