St. Norbert's Church - Sunday Reflections

The rash one has no integrity; but the just one, because of his faith, shall live. The Prophet Habakkuk simply states a sort of norm of the spiritual life. The rash person has no wholeness, no integrity, because instead of working for stability and depth, he rushed in immediately and does not really take the circumstances into account or even whatever is at the heart of a matter.

The Gospel from Luke today tells us that we are really servants of God and that we do whatever we do simply because it is the right thing to do. We should not always be expecting some of kind of praise from our God. Perhaps we have met people who have told us: I did everything that was asked of me but I never seem to have met God or to have been touched by God.

Probably most of us would be delighted to meet God, to have some deep personal experience of the living God. Some people do have that kind of religious experience. On the other hand, many of us are like Saint Thomas the Apostle and don't really accept any experience of God as authentic unless we can see and touch the Lord by ourselves.

The first reading and the Gospel seem to be saying to us today that we must walk slowly, be attentive and trust that in the proper time, God will reveal Himself to us as He wants us to know Him. The person who takes time, who finds joy in everything that happens, who is willing to believe in God even without seeing or touching�that person often receives a deep understanding of God's presence.

Part of the wisdom of spiritual advice always to slow down and to recognize that God is with me right now. I don't have to go anywhere or to do anything, just be still in the presence of the Lord. Sometimes we can be so intent on looking for our God in the way that we want God to be, that we simply overlook His presence in our lives at every moment.

Be still and wait in patience. Perhaps we can on do that when we already believe. On the other hand, there is a point in our lives where we must simply decide: I believe. Or some will decide: I don't believe. The one who decides not to believe will have different challenges than the one who decides to believe. For those of us who have chosen to believe, to accept the very fragile gift of faith that is offered to us, the world really changes day after day. We see God present everywhere and at all time.

May we be aware this week that we all belong to the sane family: those who trust in the Lord. May that trust grow in us and draw others to the Lord Jesus.