THE “ABSENT” GOD
I remember when my friend was introducing me for the first time to the computer. I wasn’t a fast learner and I thought of giving up and going back to my old and reliable typewriter. Once, I was tinkering with the keyboard and after some moments of inactivity, the screen went totally blank. I panicked, thinking that I may have punched a wrong key or executed an illegal operation. But my friend calmly said, “Don’t worry. It’s a normal computer procedure. The computer is still there. It is still working in the background, performing an unseen operation.” He added, “Don’t let go.”
Usually we panic when we don’t see the things we want to see. We become agitated and we complain when we are not visually assured.
Our salvation history is a story of humanity always demanding from God something to see: signs, miracles, wonders, besides the many God has already done. Look at the Israelites’ experience with Moses in the desert. They could no longer “see” the meat and melons that they are fed with in Egypt. All they see is the manna that God provides them. Being the visually-oriented people that they are, they complained to Moses. They forgot to acknowledge the invisible hand of Yahweh who brought them out of Egypt.
The Gospel is about Jesus’ farewell discourse to His disciples. He will no longer be seen. Jesus knows how visually-oriented the Apostles can be. They might think He has withheld His hand. And so, like a consoling friend, He prepares them for the impending persecutions that will befall them. But the Risen Christ will still be there, working in the background, performing an unseen operation in their lives. It is the same with us.
In the Eucharist, let us feel Jesus comforting us. Let us pray for the grace to overcome our propensity to be visually-oriented. God never abandons His people. He is there in our joys and triumphs, just as He is there in our loneliness, failures and frustrations. Amidst the storm, He is there, “working in the background, performing an unseen operation.” Friend, don’t let go! Fr. Joel Jason
REFLECTION QUESTION: In the face of life’s vicissitudes, do you walk by faith and not by sight (see 2 Corinthians 5:7)?
Risen Lord, You continue to be with me in Your Risen glory. Help me to perceive Your many unseen ways. Help me to walk by faith and not only by sight. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment