Saturday of the 3rd Week of Lent
Hos 5:15-6:6
Lk 18:9-14
Let us set ourselves to know the Lord…
Let’s be honest. How well can we know someone? Even though we may spend most of our lives with somebody, can we honestly say that we know them? Do we know what makes them tick? What triggers them? What are their OB (out of bounds) areas?
In my opinion, I believe it is through three things that we can say that we can know someone.
- Time spent with that person;
- Having meaningful conversations with that person;
- Observing that person’s behaviours and how they treat others
I have to admit that I like to observe people and how they behave. Call me a voyeur all you want, but I like to see people in action. It is through their behaviour or their nonverbal cues which give me an insight into their motivations or their characters. This may be considered judging someone even before I know them. However, I honestly believe that it is through our actions, especially when I see how people interact with those around them, that reveals more than what they say. Some may say that I am judgmental (that may also be true). But I know that these observations, coupled with the more time you spend with them, will give you an indication of whether you want to invest more time with them.
At this point in my life, I am not keen to know more people; and yes, I am not a person with many friends because I want to invest my time with people that I like to spend time with. These few friends of mine, I treasure. I may not meet them very often, but I know that they will have time for me when I call.
What about our relationship with God? We hear very often about how God is silent, God is unfair, why doesn’t God answer my prayers? But my personal response to this is…“Have you spent the time to know God?” Have we invested the time to know our Lord, our creator and the One that knows us better than we know ourselves?
I have personally found that if we want to know God, there are so many resources to rely on. There is, of course the scriptures, where we can observe how our how God “behaves”, how His actions and words have led to Him saving us from sin and misery. There are podcasts, where over the course of a year, we can hear the entire bible or even the Catechism of the Catholic Church. These resources are so plentiful — we are really spoilt for choice.
But all these resources are pointless if we don’t invest in spending time with God. Whether in an adoration chapel, in front of the tabernacle in a quiet church, doing a nightly examen, or even when watching a beautiful sunset — all these are situations where we can commune with the Lord and understand and talk to Him. Granted, He may not speak to us all the time, but we just need to intentionally spend time with Him, and let the Holy Spirit guide our time with our Heavenly Father.
It is then, we will understand what it is to know God and to discern the love that He has for all of us; and what He really wants us to do.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Calvin Wee)
Prayer: Almighty, ever-loving Father, we give you glory and praise in all we do. We want to know you more, and in so doing, develop a closer relationship with you. Grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may humble ourselves and allow you to open our hearts and to let your love flow through us to our neighbours. Amen
Thanksgiving: Thank you Father, for your love. Thank you for always giving us the means to know you better and to love you more. Thank you for the grace to love our neighbours and the strength to love those whom we find difficult to love. Amen.
OXYGEN 
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