18 December, Monday — Who Is God To You?

18 December

Jer 23:5-8
Mt 1:18-24

… a name which means ‘God-is-with-us’.

I am writing this while at a silent retreat in the rustic and peaceful grounds of the Cebu Center for Ignatian Spirituality, Jesuit Retreat House. On arrival in the evening of ‘Day Zero’, we were assigned a spiritual director and given a verse to reflect on to get us started. Psalm 139 was suggested and the moment I opened my bible, His words rang out loud and clear.

The next day, at my first session with my assigned SD, I shared with brother G how the Lord has been with me throughout this year, guiding me through what, in normal circumstances, would be seen as desolate, dark times in my life. I have previously shared about my various situations at work, in ministry, and even at home; how this seems to be a year of transition, where circumstances/situations are changing drastically for me.

And yet, I believe that all this has been due to God leading me towards another journey (or set of journeys). As I contemplated on the verses of Ps 139, a question came up – “Where are you sending me?” When I revealed it to brother G, he suggested for me to remain open to God’s will and to ask for his confirmation of my desires/passions and then to desire for us to become even closer. At the adoration session that night, the Lord gave me His confirmation as His son and I chuckled because of the way it was revealed — both my parents in a ‘faraway land’ (Australia), alone and with no family around them.

Today, I celebrate 57 years on this earth. And as I look back, I can only smile in wonder and awe at what He has gifted me with all this while. And yes, for me, He wants me to lead a ‘simpler life’ and to appreciate that ‘darkness is not dark for me’ (Ps 139:12b) and that in the coming months, he will be ‘leading me down the ancient paths’ (Ps 139:24) as we begin to get closer and to discern what He wishes of me. I am truly blessed to have been born in the season of Advent and wish all those born in this month a truly happy and blessed birthday.

Brothers and sisters, God’s presence among us is real and multi-faceted. He is there in the whisper of the trees as the wind blows through the leaves; He is the voice of the birds that sing in the morning, in the symphony of the rushing waters that flow down rivers, valleys and streams. And if we are created in His image and likeness, then surely He is present in each and every one of us. How then can we manifest His love to those around us? How then can we get in touch with Him in our hearts so that whenever we encounter darkness, we only see the light. And whenever we face challenges in life, we see Jesus up on the cross, looking down at us and stretching out His hand to save us, in spite of His sufferings.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Desmond Soon)

Prayer: Dearest Abba Father, you are holy, magnificent and all-knowing. You discern our purpose from afar and from the moment you created us in our mothers’ wombs, You had ordained how each of us would live our lives as your sons and daughters. Help us to discern that purpose. Teach us how to pray so that we can get to know you more and to live lives that are pleasing to you.

Thanksgiving: We thank you, heavenly Father, for gifting us with talents and for allowing us to proclaim your presence through those gifts. Take them, Father, and let them flourish in us so that we can continue to glorify you.