The stories of the Bible are filled with a God who gets involved with us.
This God, although so above and beyond, somehow mixes in — into, over, under — through every thought and action of us.
How is that so? Why is that so? Is it so?
Though inspired by God’s Spirit, the word of God is written by the hand of us. The word of God can only be said, seen and heard through the mind, heart, eyes, ears of us.
So, just as surely as we are limited in experiencing, understanding and describing that experience, we also need to be able to sift through those limitations with humility, understanding that we do not understand a lot of it.
So, we just kind of put everything on God. He causes all things and all consequences come from him, we say; nonetheless, we delight when he appears to delight in us. We rejoice when he appears to bless and protect us.
Of course, we say, it all comes from him.
Today in the readings, God blesses Israel and Ephraim both in the present and with future promises.
Jesus sends forth his followers with present blessings and future promises. The promises do not deny that the future holds some pain and suffering; but the promises proclaim that God’s Spirit would somehow mix in — into, over, under, and through — every thought and action of us.
If one were to ask me, my conclusion is that this is mysterious and mystical stuff. And somehow, even through and after death, I remain mysteriously and mystically convinced that my God will somehow mix in — into, over, under and through — every part of my reality and take me into the eternal and everlasting reality that we call God who is love.
Always was, is, and always will be.
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 14th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at perry.leiker@gmail.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
