WE normally look for something before
we can find it. But
there are instances when without looking, we find something. In these
cases, we usually call the person involved as a lucky finder, or
someone enjoying a windfall or some manna from heaven.
This can happen in the world of religion. A good example
would be the dramatic conversion of St. Paul who, even in the midst of
his most hostile campaign against early Christians, heard the voice of
Christ that led to his instant turn-around.
Many of the patriarchs, prophets and other prominent
characters in the Bible were of a similar situation. Without looking
for God or unhappy with God’s call, they were called just the same,
and even pursued as some of them tried to run away. The prophet Jonah
is a perfect example.
St. Paul quoted the prophet Isaiah to describe this
phenomenon: “I have been found by those who did not seek me. I have
shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” (Rom 10,20) Truth is,
whether we are looking for him or not, God is always around and is
actively intervening in our lives.
But for all that, we usually have to look for God to find
him. Christ himself said so: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Mt 6,33)
The same idea is reiterated when Christ said: “Ask, and it
will given to you, seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be
opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks
finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened.” (Mt 7,7-8)
This insistence to look for God is especially
understandable in the context of those instances when God allows a
person to experience what is called “the dark night of the soul.” It’s
to test him, to strengthen him, to purify him. And so the person
concerned simply has to insist in looking for God despite the
difficulties.
We are given the assurance of finding God if we look for
him earnestly. From the prophet Jeremiah, we have these words: “You
will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jer
29,13)
Yes, we have to seek God with our utmost effort, echoing
this sentiment of David when he got lost in the wilderness: “O God,
you are my God. I earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My
flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no
water.” (Ps 63,1)
We have to reassure ourselves that such effort will always
be rewarded a hundredfold by God himself who cannot be outdone in
generosity. Remember Christ’s words: “Everyone who has left houses or
brothers or sisters or father or wife or children or field for my sake
will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”
(Mt 19,29)
We have to learn how to seek and find God in all things,
big and small, and in all occasions and situations, good and bad. If
we have to use the divine logic, we should first learn to seek and
find God in the little things of each day before we can find him in
the big things, and in the very ordinary, routine things before we can
see him especially in the most trying moments of our life.
Let us always remember that everything can and should be
related to God, especially those instances when we are most
vulnerable, weak and miserable. It goes without saying that the good
times we have should be moments of thanking God, especially when we
experience big successes and victories which, if not related to God,
can intoxicate and spoil us.
As St. Josemaria Escriva once said: “There is something
holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it
is up to each of you to discover it.” God is everywhere. To capture
this reality, we need to learn how to be a contemplative even right in
the middle of the world.
We should learn to detect the presence of God in
everything and to take part in his abiding providence over us. He
always invites us to cooperate with him in governing his creation.
He even invites us to “subdue the earth and have dominion
over it.” (Gen 1,26-28) He invites us to complete his work of creation
with him. As knowing and free collaborators, we are “God’s fellow
workers.” (1 Cor 3,9)
So, there’s always basis to find and work with God if we
look for him actively.
there are instances when without looking, we find something. In these
cases, we usually call the person involved as a lucky finder, or
someone enjoying a windfall or some manna from heaven.
This can happen in the world of religion. A good example
would be the dramatic conversion of St. Paul who, even in the midst of
his most hostile campaign against early Christians, heard the voice of
Christ that led to his instant turn-around.
Many of the patriarchs, prophets and other prominent
characters in the Bible were of a similar situation. Without looking
for God or unhappy with God’s call, they were called just the same,
and even pursued as some of them tried to run away. The prophet Jonah
is a perfect example.
St. Paul quoted the prophet Isaiah to describe this
phenomenon: “I have been found by those who did not seek me. I have
shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” (Rom 10,20) Truth is,
whether we are looking for him or not, God is always around and is
actively intervening in our lives.
But for all that, we usually have to look for God to find
him. Christ himself said so: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Mt 6,33)
The same idea is reiterated when Christ said: “Ask, and it
will given to you, seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be
opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks
finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened.” (Mt 7,7-8)
This insistence to look for God is especially
understandable in the context of those instances when God allows a
person to experience what is called “the dark night of the soul.” It’s
to test him, to strengthen him, to purify him. And so the person
concerned simply has to insist in looking for God despite the
difficulties.
We are given the assurance of finding God if we look for
him earnestly. From the prophet Jeremiah, we have these words: “You
will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jer
29,13)
Yes, we have to seek God with our utmost effort, echoing
this sentiment of David when he got lost in the wilderness: “O God,
you are my God. I earnestly seek you. My soul thirsts for you. My
flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no
water.” (Ps 63,1)
We have to reassure ourselves that such effort will always
be rewarded a hundredfold by God himself who cannot be outdone in
generosity. Remember Christ’s words: “Everyone who has left houses or
brothers or sisters or father or wife or children or field for my sake
will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”
(Mt 19,29)
We have to learn how to seek and find God in all things,
big and small, and in all occasions and situations, good and bad. If
we have to use the divine logic, we should first learn to seek and
find God in the little things of each day before we can find him in
the big things, and in the very ordinary, routine things before we can
see him especially in the most trying moments of our life.
Let us always remember that everything can and should be
related to God, especially those instances when we are most
vulnerable, weak and miserable. It goes without saying that the good
times we have should be moments of thanking God, especially when we
experience big successes and victories which, if not related to God,
can intoxicate and spoil us.
As St. Josemaria Escriva once said: “There is something
holy, something divine hidden in the most ordinary situations, and it
is up to each of you to discover it.” God is everywhere. To capture
this reality, we need to learn how to be a contemplative even right in
the middle of the world.
We should learn to detect the presence of God in
everything and to take part in his abiding providence over us. He
always invites us to cooperate with him in governing his creation.
He even invites us to “subdue the earth and have dominion
over it.” (Gen 1,26-28) He invites us to complete his work of creation
with him. As knowing and free collaborators, we are “God’s fellow
workers.” (1 Cor 3,9)
So, there’s always basis to find and work with God if we
look for him actively.
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