Thursday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time

Some readings seem to reach out and immediately touch my heart.  However, at first reading, today’s scripture confused me.  The first reading seemed overwhelming, the gospel seemed too short – what else happened or was said.  What did Herod do at that time?  But after reviewing a few more times, something did reach out and touch my heart:

.  . .Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”
And he kept trying to see him.

It dawned on me, that we all keep trying to see Him – sometimes with more success than other.  How often do we search and cry out asking where is God?  Yet, I firmly believe that throughout my life, throughout all the struggles, disappointments, and loses, God was always there.  My mother set that example for me.  I watched her: always faithful, no matter what, that God was there.    

So, throughout my life in both good times and not so good, I knew (and know) that God is with me.  It fosters an attitude of gratitude in my many blessings – I see that God created a beautiful world that continues to awe me, literally from sea to shining sea.  When I forget this and start seeing the negatives of everything around me, I am gently called back to my loving, all-present God.  A special song will play, a star twinkle more brightly, a person will reach out, a flower bloom at just the right time – I am reminded that God and my BFF Jesus are always there by my side no matter how cloudy things look.   When my heart and mind are in the right place, the world is truly a beautiful place full of good things, good places, and good people.  I am reminded that this loving, all-present God that I long to see is merciful and always sees and accepts me as a beloved sinner.  So . . .  I will keep trying to see Him.