God is ready to be in our thoughts, words and deeds
by Renae Bauer
Communications Director
In her book, In Search of Belief, Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister asks what kind of God do we believe in: One that is wrathful? Indifferent? Magical? Or Blessing-Maker? What we believe is what we become, she suggests.
I want to believe in the God of blessings, as I’m sure you do, too. But how do I turn an incomplete image of God into a full one? Sunday’s Gospel shows the way. Jesus gives two examples of faith-filled people -- the widow in Zarephath and Naaman the Syrian. Naaman purified himself both physically and spiritually in the waters of the Jordan. I think cleansing our minds and hearts of false, wrathful images is the first step toward preparing room for our loving God.
Go, and be cleansed.
My first husband left me 9 months married and 7 months pregnant. When I met someone else, I was worried about getting married again, being divorced and my prospective groom, divorced with 3 children. Both marriages needed to be annulled before I could receive the sacraments again. I prayed for a sign that I should marry him. I asked him to leave the judge's home and he barely had the car in reverse and -- literally -- here comes the judge proclaiming we were in the right place. I told my to-be groom we could go ahead. Two years later I gave birth to twins -- almost as if, if I didn't get the first message, here's two more! We had 25 wonderful years together! I knew I was blessed and that my marriage pleased God.