Present to the people

The tests today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary invoke consideration of the role which we individually have in the presentation of the Kingdom of God to the world. Friar Jude Winkler highlights the approach of the author of the Letter to the Hebrews who points out that our understanding of the Presence of God in our lives, through Jesus, is much more intense and intimate than the experience of the Israelites with Moses on Mt Sinai who were terrified by His Presence. That suspension of our ordinary path in the awareness of Divine Presence is experience for which we unfortunately do not spend enough time preparing ourselves and anticipating it will happen. The psalmist indicates that we will come to greater understanding of the dwelling place of God in the world by walking and living in expectation of a Divine encounter. Friar Jude suggests that the establishment of the Kingdom of God could be an action entirely accomplished through the initiative of God. The Gospel of Mark specifies how the followers of Christ are to be active as the witnesses to His Presence. The discipline of losing self in our encounter with the people in our lives is essential for the success of our mission. Our concern that the will of God be done is our motive. When the people with whom we interact accept the invitation to be with us, we trust that their response, with acceptance or rejection, is the proper direction in the plan of God. Our experience of God Present in His people is our vision of the heavenly Jerusalem in the Letter to the Hebrews.