In today's first reading, Ezekiel 43: 1-7ab, the prophet shares a vision he has of "the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east." Every morning, the sun rises from the east. Is God not hidden in the sun, as He is hidden in the consecrated host, I wonder! Ezekiel goes on to share more of the vision, saying: "I saw that the temple was filled with the glory of the Lord." In our baptism, we died and rose with Christ and were transformed into the Temple of God. The Spirit of God dwells within our very beings and, yes, we are "filled with the glory of the Lord." Our eyes are veiled so we do not see that glory but it is no less real, as real as the sun shining but not seen because it is hidden by clouds!
In the last lines of today's first reading, Ezekiel hears a voice saying to him: This "is where my throne shall be, this is where I will set the soles of my feet; here I will dwell among the children of Israel forever." Yes! God dwells here on earth with us forever, as He promises His disciples right before He is ascended into heaven: Behold, "I am with you always, until the end of the age" (Matthew 28: 20).
Where is God? Right here, standing before you and beside you. Right here, closer to you and me than our breath! Right here, living within your very being! "Where am I when you suffer," God asks? "I am suffering with you! That is where I am! Where am I in this coronavirus pandemic? I am in it with you, struggling, as you do, to eradicate this plague from the earth! I am suffering, crying, weeping, struggling with you do! We are one!"
Why don't you, God, take it away? You are God! "I am not a magic wand that you can wave over the pandemic and it is gone. No, I am God Incarnate, God-with-you, God-in-you! I am your Strength and your Light, your Wisdom that guides you in how you cope with this plague and what you do to limit its spread!Trust Me! Rely upon Me! Know your dependence, your vulnerability, your need of me and live wisely, humbly and lovingly!"
Showing posts with label A prophet's words. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A prophet's words. Show all posts
Saturday, August 22, 2020
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
A Prophet's Warning
In today's first reading, Isaiah 10: 5-7, 13b-16, the Lord God again warns Assyria, saying: Woe to Assyria! My rod in anger, my staff in wrath." As God watches the poor being neglected, truth being scorned and lies being protected, could God be saying to us: "Woe to you"? As justice is being eroded by persons who have assumed the position of being guiltless and beyond reproach, I believe that we need to get on our knees and beg Jesus to send the Holy Spirit, opening our eyes to God's presence, our ears to God's voice giving direction, our wills to follow God's precepts and our hearts to love and act on God's decrees! "Against an impious nation," God sends prophets and prophetesses, warning us of being deceived by the powerful and cunning men of this world! Are we, am I, listening? Are we, am I, seeing?
De we realize when other people and when we ourselves are, in fact, saying: "By my own power I have done it [whatever good we project we may be doing, even when that good may actually be harmful for the people we are called to protect]? Do we realize when we, or others, are also saying: "...I have done it,...by my wisdom, for I am shrewd." Are there times when we rejoice in having "put down the enthroned," by our power, by bullying, by making fun of others, by whatever means to this end? The prophet points out the wrong being done by people of power in his day, when, in fact, they say: [L]ike a giant, I have put down the enthroned; my hand has seized like a nest the riches of nations". It seems that persons in power in our day are "seizing like a nest the riches" of others. The question, however, that I need to ask myself is: Am I competing to be richer than others and willing to go to any expense to raise myself above others in material or other kinds of riches?
The prophet asks the questions: ....Will the axe boast against him [the bully] who hews with it? Will the saw exalt itself above him [the bully] who wields it? As if a rod could sway him [the bully] who lifts, or a staff him who is not wood! Therefore the Lord will send among his fat ones leanness, and instead of his glory there will be kindling like the kindling of fire."
Is it time for us to heed the prophet's words? Is it possible that we have the "an impious nation" and the bully?
De we realize when other people and when we ourselves are, in fact, saying: "By my own power I have done it [whatever good we project we may be doing, even when that good may actually be harmful for the people we are called to protect]? Do we realize when we, or others, are also saying: "...I have done it,...by my wisdom, for I am shrewd." Are there times when we rejoice in having "put down the enthroned," by our power, by bullying, by making fun of others, by whatever means to this end? The prophet points out the wrong being done by people of power in his day, when, in fact, they say: [L]ike a giant, I have put down the enthroned; my hand has seized like a nest the riches of nations". It seems that persons in power in our day are "seizing like a nest the riches" of others. The question, however, that I need to ask myself is: Am I competing to be richer than others and willing to go to any expense to raise myself above others in material or other kinds of riches?
The prophet asks the questions: ....Will the axe boast against him [the bully] who hews with it? Will the saw exalt itself above him [the bully] who wields it? As if a rod could sway him [the bully] who lifts, or a staff him who is not wood! Therefore the Lord will send among his fat ones leanness, and instead of his glory there will be kindling like the kindling of fire."
Is it time for us to heed the prophet's words? Is it possible that we have the "an impious nation" and the bully?
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