September 21, 2014
25th Sunday Ordinary Time
On Saturday, during the eulogy, a daughter spoke kindly of her elderly Dad who was an Army veteran in WWII. Although blind, he used the word: “tracings†with his wife and daughters to describe the “hand of God†at work in his family. Isaiah, the great Jewish prophet, could speak of the transcendence of God and also of God’s imminence. “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call him while he is near.†Isaiah exhorts the scoundrel to forsake his way and the wicked his thoughts and turn to the Lord for mercy! Although the thoughts and the ways of God are always above us, the Lord draws near to us with divine forgiveness. St. Paul writes his letter to the Philippians while he is in prison. Although confined and uncertain about his future, Paul says whether he lives or dies: “life is Christ.†Paul has a profound sense of God being with him and sends a letter of encouragement to the Church at Philippi to assure them of his concern. Both Paul and the believing community are aware of the “tracings†of God. Last Sunday I was asked by a lady nearing death to pray with her and her family gathered around her hospital bed in the living room of her home. At the particular moment, I felt the presence of God. Today, let us pray for the Holy Spirit to discern times and places when God draws closer to us. “Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call to him while he is near.â€
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Exaltation of the Holy Cross
