As Close As That

 As Close As That

When you go out to gaze at the stars in the night sky, what do you see?  When the clouds that have covered the sky like a thick quilt for three days, suddenly, unexpectantly, are pierced by a shaft of sunlight through the clouds, through the air, and into the far horizon like Arthur’s sword, does it pierce your heart as well?   When you watch a pair of a pair of merlins lazily spiraling with the rising thermals of the warming afternoon, what do you see?  Do you see simply what is to be seen?  Do you see evidence?  Is God up there?  Yes, and still closer than that. 

When you walk through the woods at this time of year, and see the hepatica poking through the matted leaves from last autumn, what do you see?  When you look out at the water and watch the sunlight reflecting millions of times in millions of ripples in the breeze, can you feel the freedom that has been held frozen in ice these past five months?  Is God in the beauty at hand?  Yes, and still closer than that.

When the child jumps up into your arms and grasps your neck tightly, what do you feel?  When your love of forty years holds your cheek in the palm of his hand, and still sees the beauty of your face, what do you feel?  When such love that is like Jesus’ self-giving love, warms your heart can you experience God’s love there?  Yes, and still closer than that.

If you have invited the Spirit within your heart – and yet even deeper into your soul, does He now dwell there?  If you have experienced the awe of the joining of Heaven and earth on the altar, and witnessed the elevation of the precious cup of salvation and the bread of our salvation, what have you seen?  And still more, if you have dared approach and even tasted the gifts that were just bread and wine but are now The Gift, what have you tasted?  Is God there on the table?  Yes, and still closer than that.  Is God now within?  Yes, as close as that.  There, at home, within.

My spiritual director and I were discussing the indwelling of the Holy Spirit today.  She served for ten years with St. Theresa as one of her Sisters of Charity.  She shared with me that whenever Mother was feeling overwhelmed in the moment, that she would close her eyes, bow her head, and just place her hand on her heart. It was a simple prayer that helped remind her that God was there and always with her.  And when He is the source we can’t feel anything but love for whomever we are with in that moment.  And He wants to love that person.  He wants to love that person through you.  Let Him.

His Peace <><

Deacon Dan