GOOD - GOD

Christmas decorations wherever we look, the music and commercials, our giving tree in church and those at home with lots of presents - a sure sign it’s almost D-day. Or should I say C-day? Of course we want more than lots of presents to make this Christmas a real miracle in our life. We want a holy encounter.

Just as Joseph had. How? Through faith. 

Today, our gospel tells us of Joseph’s faith…and his response. In any culture, let alone that of Israel 2000 years ago, a prospective husband who learns that his betrothed is pregnant by another would be justified in walking away. But he chose to stay…because of his love; you just know how much he must have loved Mary. 

And because of a dream…because of his faith in an encounter. What faith! 

It was his faith that gave him certainty that God was with him ...guiding him. And because of his faith, both he and Mary experienced the fullness of God with them. We, too, want that faith...that certainty. We, too, want to experience Emmanuel - God with us.

But if we are expecting God to come and be present to us, we've got it wrong...we have it backward. It is we who have to be present to God.

God is already with us. It is faith that makes visible the Holy Presence.

And in that encounter, we too, like Joseph, begin our holy quest.

God is with us. But we have to be alert to God’s presence. Without this holy awareness, religion may be empty and meaningless, perhaps nothing more than merely going through the motions. That's why we need faith...real faith. Faith that is not real may be the main dilemma in our journey of life.

One way to discern if our faith is real is to ask ourselves, What difference does belief in God make in my life? Do my actions show a difference from those who do not believe?

As the saying goes, Show me how you live, and I'll tell you what you really believe.

If we are to celebrate next Sunday the birth of God in our midst…in us…we must first believe that God is alive and wants to be one with us…wants to be born in us. It is not only our willingness to cooperate, but God’s very desire.

As Psalm 46 says, Be still...and know...that God is with us...and wants the very best for us. It is this conviction that opens the door to the holy encounter…the awareness of being with the Holy Presence.

This encounter, this awareness depends on us. We have the power to make God’s dream (of being re-born in our world) a reality…or not.

We have the power to make our dream of peace, joy, happiness, fulfillment…our desire to find purpose and meaning in life…a reality. Or not.

Where does this faith come from? Unlike religion, that we may have been born into, faith requires that we make a conscious decision to believe, perhaps as Kierkegaard said, by a leap of faith...a desire to believe. 

  

At times, despite our desire, and the awe and wonder all around, but because of the tragedies in our life, it’s hard to see God in our midst. Even the saints have wrestled with this. St. Thérese, the Little Flower, who had a very intimate relationship with the Lord, could not find him during the last days of her life as she battled tuberculosis. She would say to him, Where are you? I know what you’re doing. You’re playing hide-and-seek. Well, I like games.

I have found another way in the desert moments of my journey. I share it with you. Look for the good in you and others, and you will discover God. I am convinced that the word ‘good’ is an extension of the word, ‘God’.

To do good is to go beyond one's own needs and to illumine the world...to reflect the hidden light of God's holiness. As much as we delight in discovering the hand of God in the mystery and wonder of creation, it is more meaningful for us to believe in the immanence of God in deeds than in the presence of God in nature.

God confirms this. When the universe was created, the word God spoke was not what we might have uttered: beautiful, sublime, grandeur. It is good, said God. God is not impressed with splendor. God is impressed with goodness. 

Goodness leads us to holiness...to the holy encounter with God!