Consciousness … awareness!

The Letter to the Hebrews helps to situate our presence in His Presence when it says, ‘…but you have come to Mount Sion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, ad to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant…’ (Heb12:22-24a). 

Beloved people of God, the Lord’s presence is known as the Real Presence. This requires consciousness and awareness. It is a presence not judged by the senses – touch, sight, sound, neither by emotions nor feelings. It is believed. It is known. Hence the words, ‘You have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them’ (Heb 12:18-19). What a privilege to be invited and to be admitted into this Presence where we are all received with open arms, welcomed with warmth, nourished and nurtured with wholehearted love – without judgement, bias, or prejudice. The upright shall rejoice at the presence of the Lord…they exult with gladness. They receive attention from the Father of orphans who defends the widows. The Lord’s flock dwell there as He, our God, provides for the poor. (cf. Ps 68(67):4ff).

May wisdom inform our thoughts, our words and humility guide our deeds. May we adhere to the admonition ‘perform your tasks in meekness…for great is the might of the Lord; he is glorified by the humble’ (cf. Sr 3:17-18, 20, 28-29). Moreover, the gospel tells us that, ‘…everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted’ (Lk 14:1, 7-14). May the Lord deepen our sense of reverence, nurture what is good in us and by his watchful care keep safe what he nurtures in us. Amen.  

                                                                     Fr. Ted