TRANSCRIPT
NB. Here’s a question about evidence of God’s existence. Do you think that God’s self-revelation to us is the best proof of his existence?
RW. It (God’s self-revelation to us)
is certainly the most basic moment for most people:
— the sense that they are
being seen
and spoken to
and taken seriously.
I don’t think that, say in the Old Testament, Moses, encountering God in the burning bush, was consulting a set of philosophical arguments. He believed that he was being called into a new life, and given the power and resources to live that “new”, and the proof, well, the proof of the pudding, is in the eating, the proof was doing it, putting your foot out and finding this firm ground under it.
And the invitation to put your foot out and find firm ground, that’s revelation. You might say, it’s God – like Jesus walking on the water – reaching out his hand and saying, “Look, I know this looks ridiculous (to you), but could you think about trusting me here?”
Yes, you might find that the ground is firm under your feet.
So, that’s where I see the very heart of revelation.
REFLECT
Ponder this. Is Rowan speaking
about God’s self-revelation in the Scriptures, or
about God’s self-revelation in my prayer, my experiences and my perceptions, – or, in both of these?
Have I ever felt that God is calling me as God called Moses to recognize that he was walking? Am I walking on holy ground?
Have I ever thought that God is saying to me, “Look, I know this looks ridiculous (to you), but could you think about trusting me here?”
When did I experience this? What happened? And if I did not, what changes to my life and my way of “perceiving” the things in my day do I need to change so that I don’t miss these potential encounters with God?
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LET YOURSELF FIND GOD?
Nothing is more practical than finding God,
that is,
Falling in Love with God
in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination,
will affect everything.
It will decide
what will get you out of bed in the morning,
what you do with your evenings,
how you spend your weekends,
what you read, whom you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.
Fall in love, stay in love,
and it will decide everything.
~ attributed to Pedro Arrupe SJ (1907-1991)
+++++
“Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.”
St. Augustine (354 A.D.-430 A.D.)
+++++
What are you in love with?
What seizes your imagination?
Is it God?
Where is whatever-it-is leading you?