When he was at table with them, he took the bread. He blessed the bread, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him!(Luke 24:13-35)

Monday, October 11, 2021

The glory of God is in our everyday life!

 


Most of my reflections focus on the “prophetic” books of the Old Testament or the Gospels and Letters in the New Testament.  But today a line from Psalm 19 leapt out at me - “The heavens proclaim the glory of God.” (Psalm 19:2)

I see the glory all around me; in the sunrises and sunsets, in the colors of the fall foliage as it changes on the trees, and even in the fierce wind that blew all day long today!   I see the glory in God’s creatures that I encounter on my walks—the birds in the air, the squirrels in the trees and the dogs that bark at me to warn their owners of the nearby intruder.

And the glory continues in all the relationships I have – with family, with friends, with neighbors, and the list goes on.  What glory is shining and reflected in each one!  I sometimes sit at Sunday Mass in church and reflect on my “spiritual family members” in that community – the priests and deacons, the Eucharistic ministers, my fellow parishioners—and marvel at all the gifts they have and share, praying that I have something just as valuable to give.  And I do this reflection knowing that there are probably obstacles and challenges they have had to meet in their lives.  

The glory of God is present in my wife and daughters—in the way they put up with me and my selfish ego at times.  I see the glory of God in the uniqueness of each of our grandchildren.  We were able to spend the weekend with them and I marveled at each of their unique gifts.  For Lily, age 12, I marveled at her loving, caring, and nurturing cheerful attitude as she was playing with her younger cousins.  For Josephine, age 5, the glory of listening to her spouting off colors in both English and Spanish, which she is learning through immersion in kindergarten.  The glory was shining in Paloma, age 3 (almost) as she was simply full of energy and curiosity.  The Glory of God is manifested quite visually in these wonderful grandchildren.

Yes, indeed; “The heavens proclaim the glory of God.”

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