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Reflections

January 2012

As another year opens its doors, we may be wondering what it could have in store for us. The words of an old song come to mind” whatever will be, will be; the future is not ours to see…” Our creative God continues to beckon amid the challenges that present themselves. The increased hunger for an alternative view of life is clearly evidenced in the number of books in the “Mind, Body, Spirit” section in most bookstores. It conveys a message that something more is needed to nourish one’s inner life amid an increasing secular world-view.

Jeremiah, one of the great prophets of Israel, was torn between his desire to do what God wanted of him and his resistance to proclaiming the message that God’s people needed to hear (Jer 1:5-8). The Bible has many stories of those who struggled to respond to God in their lives. Response to the Word is less about understanding and more about presence – a lingering presence that gives God the space to touch our lives.

“To you O Lord, I lift up my soul, in you I place my trust” Ps 25

 

One of our resolutions for this year may be to keep vigil with the Word of God. Let us open the pages of our heart to the transforming power of God’s Word.

In Jn 1:35-42, we see John the Baptist pointing his disciples in the direction of Jesus, who asks them: “what are you looking for?” to which they respond ”where are you staying?”. He then invites them to “come and see” - what response might I give to these questions today? What kind of home am I offering the Word of God in my life today? – do I need to set aside a space in my life to give some more focus to ‘being’ than on ‘doing’. How do I feel about the current choices I make in my life? Normally we find our way while on the way. As we begin this year, let us resolve to open our hearts to God’s guidance in our life – through creative waiting, asking God to clear up the haze on our path and show us the way to walk.

“No one knew the name of this day; born quietly from deepest night. It hid its face in light, demanded nothing for itself, opened out to offer each of us a field of brightness that travelled ahead, providing in time, ground to hold our footsteps and the light of thought to show the way”. J O’Donohue, (Benedictus Pg 175)

 

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