GOD'S COMMUNICATIONS

FRIDAY, TWENTY NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Eph 4:1-6; Ps 24:1-6; Lk 12:54-59

Spiritual Signs of Our God

Communication usually happens between two people or parties who understand the meaning of the signs used. God is the Supreme Spirit and the origin or father of spirits. He always communicates spiritually to us in various languages. Cf. Heb 1:1. But because most of us are spiritually dead or unresponsive, we hardly receive or understand the communication from God, our Father. God is no stranger to our spiritual paucity; he also employs physical signs and means within our understanding and operations. But because these physical means and signs are far removed from the spiritual realm, we cannot easily make spiritual meaning from them. We need a spiritual medium to interpret God’s will as coded in the physical signs. The Son of man is the chief medium of the Father’s mind for us. He came among us to reveal the will of God the Father, to enable us to acquire a spiritual life and communicate more directly with God the Father. Jesus revealed his mission to restore spiritual life and activity on earth when he expressed his desire to enkindle the fire of divine love in our hearts.

Communication is always easier and easily established between people who are eager and willing to communicate with one another. Willingness to communicate is the foundation of attentiveness. The wellbeing of our lives on earth requires attentiveness to our environment, for we need to receive and understand the communications from various creatures as interacting and contributing to our wellbeing. Our Lord found it hypocritical that his people understood nature, but failed to understand the spiritual meaning of events that were mostly prophesied. “When you see a cloud looming up in the west you say at once that rain is coming, and so it does. And when the wind is from the south you say it will be hot, and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the face of the earth and the sky. How is it you do not know how to interpret these times?” God created all things and harmoniously orders everything to achieve his divine will, which is for our ultimate good. While remaining attentive to natural and seasonal events, we must be willing to receive divine communications within our daily events. Events of a particular time communicate divine will to the people therein. “Why not judge for yourselves what is right?”

Our faith in Jesus Christ ought to aid us to attain a clearer understanding of God’s will for us in every situation. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is a spiritual light God has lit in us to better receive and understand his will at every instant. Saint Paul confirms the basis of our spiritual communication with God on our participation in the one Spirit of Christ. “Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called.” If we heard God’s call through Jesus Christ and answered wholeheartedly, then our attention ought to be riveted on Jesus Christ, through whom the Father communicates his divine will to us. Our attentiveness to Jesus Christ ensures our transformation into him, which is realisation of the Father’s will at every moment. “There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.” The Psalmist holds a similar view, confirming that those who receive divine communication must be without self-interest; they must be interested in doing the will of God. “Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? The man with clean hands and pure heart, who desires not worthless things.” Let us empty ourselves to receive the divine communications and guidance for our lives.

Let us pray: Almighty ever-living God, grant that we may always conform our will to yours and serve your majesty in sincerity of heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.