#121

In His Presence, II

Many people around the world talk about feeling the presence of God. Many say "God is on my side." I hope that when we say this, we really mean "We wish and hope that God is on our side." God can only be on our side when we strive not to commit any sin. People who do harm to their brother or sister, God is still on your side, but He does not condone our behavior. This is a very different issue when we ask the question, "as soldiers in war, is God on our side?" If those who are soldiers go to battle God is on their side, because they obey a commanding officer. It is the person "where the buck stops," who made the decision to send troops into battle who is responsible for commanding the troops to eliminate the enemy. Then there is the question, is that particular battle "a just war," or some action that doesn't threaten the home land. I won't go into that because I am not qualified to do so.

As long as we try very, very hard not to commit sin, deliberate mortal sin, God is on our side and we are in His Presence. God continues to love us, no matter what, but He abhors the sin. The overriding concern is if we love God. If we sin, we do not love God, and if we say we love Him and we still sin, we do not love Him enough. It's that simple.

Loving God, or feeling God's love, isn't a "warm, fuzzy feeling." It is a firm knowledge, and so we try harder, to love Him more. Love isn't some fancy feeling but it is a deep-seated friendship, a friendship of the soul. In order to nurture love, Catholics usually do that by going to Holy Mass daily, praying a lot more, and really trying to be Christ-like in their treatment of other people. Then there comes a point in their prayer life that they feel God's Presence much more.

As an example, there was a elderly lady, blind for the last 8 years, to whom I brought Holy Communion once a week. On the morning two weeks ago, when I was sitting at home, ready to go to daily Mass on the morning I would bring Jesus to her, I suddenly got a strong feeling that she is now able to see, because she is seeing God Himself. That feeling was as real as if I were there, in her presence, and although it lasted only seconds, I felt God's Presence through and through. When I came to where she lived, I found out that, indeed, she had passed away, on the same day I brought Jesus to her, a week before.

In order to pray well, we need to schedule time for prayer. Prayer 'on the run,' doesn't do justice to the effort, although, I suppose, for some people, that is the only choice. The prayer doesn't need to come from a book, in fact, natural or conversational prayer, that is speaking to God, to Jesus as if you are speaking to your best friend, is the best prayer of all. Precisely because He IS our best friend!

As we are soon entering into Holy Week, followed by Easter, this is a particularly good time to place ourselves in His Presence and devote some solid time to prayer and reflection!

May this Passion time be special for all of you!

Fred Schaeffer, SFO
April 2, 2003