Where is God

 1.  PRAYER

Holy God,
I come to you today because I want to know you.
My heart is searching for truth, for peace, and for real purpose.
Please forgive my mistakes and clear away any doubts in my mind.
Open my eyes to see your presence all around me—in my life, in nature, and in the people I meet.
Guide my steps and draw my heart close to yours.
Reveal yourself to me today.
In Jesus’ name, Amen

2.  MEDITATION

https://youtu.be/syx3a1_LeFo?si=w0HZihA_jKIcW4Og

3. SONG

https://youtu.be/Lzl8-_4qzyk

4.  NARRATIVE

Father Richard Rohr teaches that an encounter with God happens in the ordinary, concrete present moment rather than in a distant, separate realm. [1, 2]

Key Beliefs on Encountering God

God is Here Now: Rohr states that God is not "out there," but hidden within the physical, material world and everyday human life. [1, 2]
The Ordinary as Revelation: According to the Center for Action and Contemplation, God's revelations are specific and found in daily history, meaning true spirituality is about becoming fully human. [1]
The Universal Christ: Rohr teaches that the divine presence indwells all creation and all people, making the physical world a place to fall in love with God. [1, 2]
The Role of Silence: Deep contemplative silence allows individuals to move past ego and analytical thinking to experience the foundational presence of the divine. [1]
Evidence of the Encounter: Rohr notes on X (formerly Twitter) that the true test of an encounter with God is how compassionately you interact with the world around you. [1]

Where Is God?
Friday, January 5, 2018

When I was on retreat at Thomas Merton’s hermitage at Gethsemani Abbey in 1985, I had a chance encounter that has stayed with me all these years. I was walking down a little trail when I recognized a recluse, what you might call a hermit’s hermit, coming toward me. Not wanting to intrude on his deep silence, I bowed my head and moved to the side of the path, intending to walk past him. But as we neared each other, he said, “Richard!” That surprised me. He was supposed to be silent. How did he know who I was? “Richard, you get chances to preach and I don’t. Tell the people one thing.” Pointing to the sky, he said, “God is not ‘out there’!” Then he said, “God bless you,” and abruptly continued down the path.

The belief that God is “out there” is the basic dualism that is tearing us all apart. Our view of God as separate and distant has harmed our relationships with sexuality, food, possessions, money, animals, nature, politics, and our own incarnate selves. This loss explains why we live such distraught and divided lives. Jesus came to put it all together for us and in us. He was saying, in effect, “To be human is good! The material and the physical can be trusted and enjoyed. This physical world is the hiding place of God and the revelation place of God!”

Far too much of religion has been about defining where God is and where God isn’t, picking and choosing who and what has God’s image and who and what doesn’t. In reality, it’s not up to us. We have no choice in the matter. All are beloved. Everyone—Catholic and Protestant, Christian and Muslim, black and white, gay and straight, able-bodied and disabled, male and female, Republican and Democrat—all are children of God. We are all members of the Body of Christ, made in God’s image, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, whether or not we are aware of this gift.

Can you see the image of Christ in the least of your brothers and sisters? This is Jesus’ only description of the final judgment (Matthew 25). But some say, “They smell. They’re a nuisance. They’re on welfare. They are a drain on our tax money.” Can we see Christ in all people, even the so-called “nobodies” who can’t or won’t play our game of success? When we can see the image of God where we don’t want to see the image of God, then we see with eyes not our own.

Jesus says we have to love and recognize the divine image even in our enemies. Either we see the divine image in all created things, or we don’t see it at all. Once we see God’s image in one place, the circle keeps widening. It doesn’t stop with human beings and enemies and the least of our brothers and sisters. It moves to frogs and pansies and weeds. Everything becomes enchanting with true sight. We cannot not live in the presence of God. We are totally surrounded and infused by God. All we can do is allow, trust, and finally rest in it, which is indeed why we are “saved” by faith—faith that this could be true.

Gateway to Presence:
If you want to go deeper with today’s meditation, take note of what word or phrase stands out to you. Come back to that word or phrase throughout the day, being present to its impact and invitation.

References:
Adapted from Richard Rohr, “Creation as the Body of God,” Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth, ed. Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee (The Golden Sufi Center: 2013), 235-241; and
Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer (The Crossroad Publishing Company: 2003), 58-59, 117-119.

5.  MEDITATION

https://youtu.be/RNeLU-5yR04?si=dmmdmdA3ppEmxuC1

6.  SHARING

7.  PRAYER AND INTENTIONS

A Prayer for Finding God in All Things

Walk with me, Creator, in the cool of today. Point out to me those things you’ve made for my pleasure and my nourishment. Show me the people you are inviting me to know, to care for, and to defend. Draw my attention to the subtle hints of your beauty, your glory, and your power. As I wander, fill me with wonder and worship at your presence. Amen.

8. SONG

https://youtu.be/gWz4feHp0ko

A Joyous Musical Outburst of a Soul

how do we pray

1.  PRAYER

Loving Lord Jesus, thank You that You are a God Who hears and answers all our prayers, even those prayers where an answer seems to be a long time in coming. Thank You, that You hear and respond to all Your children who come to you in humility of heart, not relying on our own abilities or our own worth, but only on the merit and righteousness of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Teach me Lord, to be patient in my prayers and to learn to wait quietly and trustingly for Your perfect timing, knowing that in all things You are teaching and training me to be more Christ-like in all my works and ways, including my praying.

Lord, teach me to pray according to Your perfect will, and I pray that however long I need to wait, I ask that You would teach me to be patient in my waiting and to trust Your Word for all that You have promised. 

Thank You, Lord, that I am Your child and that You are my Father. Thank You that through Jesus, I can cry out, "Abba, Father," knowing that I have full access to Your throne of grace, when I come to You in weakness and humility of heart. Thank You in Jesus' name,

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Prayers-on-Learning-How-to-Pray

2.  MEDITATION

 https://youtu.be/Xl_B45DpMLU?si=rPaOTDh149kQRiQp

3.  SONG

https://youtu.be/ESPsxN4u18o?si=zDjrI5evrMl_VGtR

4.  NARRATIVE

HOW DO WE PRAY

Gospel, Matthew 15:21-28

²¹ Jesus left that place and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

²² And suddenly out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, 'Lord, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.'

²³ But he said not a word in answer to her. And his disciples went and pleaded with him, saying, 'Give her what she wants, because she keeps shouting after us.'

²⁴ He said in reply, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.'

²⁵ But the woman had come up and was bowing low before him. 'Lord,' she said, 'help me.'

²⁶ He replied, 'It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to little dogs.'

²⁷ She retorted, 'Ah yes, Lord; but even little dogs eat the scraps that fall from their masters' table.'

²⁸ Then Jesus answered her, 'Woman, you have great faith. Let your desire be granted.' And from that moment her daughter was well again.

Fr. Michael Roche’s sermon

I don't think most of us would have made it as far as this woman. Think about what happens. She comes to Jesus. She's a mother desperate for her child. She cries out to Jesus. Have pity on me, Lord son of David.

And Jesus says nothing. I already think that many of us would be struggling. We pray, we ask. Silence.  It doesn't take very long before you start wondering. Is there something wrong? But this woman keeps on going.

Disciples wanted to get rid of her, And she keeps going. She comes closer. Falls at his feet, And her prayer gets very simple.

Lord help me.

And then comes the line which we probably wish Jesus hadn't said. “Even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters”.  At this point most of us are definitely done, but she isn't. She says something astonishing.

Yes, Lord.

 Not “ that's unfair,”

 Not “ let me explain why I deserve better”.

Yes, Lord.

And then she takes Jesus word “Even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters”.

In other words, "fine Lord, I don't need the best seat. I don't even need a seat. Put me under the table because if I am anywhere near you. That will be enough".

She isn't placing her confidence in her own worthiness. She's placing her confidence entirely in who Jesus is. And maybe that is what Jesus has been drawing out of her all along.

Look what happens. She begins shouting from a distance. Then she becomes closer. Then she falls at his feet. Her prayer gets shorter. Her fate gets deeper.

There's something here for us, because sometimes our prayer goes through the same kind of purification. We pray for someone we love. We pray for marriage. We pray for healing. We pray for a child who is struggling. We pray for someone to return to the faith. We pray for freedom from a sin we have confessed more times than we could care to admit.

And sometimes God seems silent. We begin wondering whether anything is happening.

But we should never confuse the silence of God with the absence of God.

Faith can be like gold being purified in a furnace. The fire isn't there to destroy the gold.  It burns away what doesn't belong that what is precious can become more beautiful. Sometimes our prayer is purified that way too.

We may begin with: “God, here is what I need.  Here is what needs to happen, Here is how you should do it.  And, if possible, here is the timetable”.

And eventually:

“Lord help me,”

 I don't understand, I don't know what you're doing. But I know who you are.  And I am not going anywhere.

And that brings us to perhaps the most beautiful part of this Gospel.

The whole time it looks as though this woman is pursuing Jesus.

 But think about it. Who came into her territory in the first place?

Jesus did.

She thinks she's chasing after him. But Jesus came looking for her first.

His mercy isn’t something she finally manages to drag out of him   His grace has been at work from the beginning even when she couldn’t see it.   

And finally Jesus says. “O woman , great is your faith”!

 In what began with silence ends with Jesus marveling at her.

 She came asking Jesus to heal her daughter and he does.   But something else has happened too.  She has come closer to Jesus. And maybe that is true for us too. 

So when God seems silent, don't leave.

 Keep praying.  Keep coming closer. 

And if you run out of words, borrow hers.   

“Lord, help me”.

Because even in the silence, Jesus might be much closer than you think.

5.  MEDITATION

https://youtu.be/OszElEtjrL0?si=s08KWfh90xmSIrsj

6.  SHARING

7. PRAYER AND INTENTIONS

Dear Heavenly Father, I feel so weak and foolish when I come to You in prayer as I often do not know what I pray, or how to form the thoughts of my hearts into words that make sense. 

But Lord, it is a comfort to read in the scripture that the Holy Spirit is there for me in all my weaknesses, including those times when I find it hard to pray. Thank You, Lord, that even when I don't know what to pray for or what God wants me to pray for, the Holy Spirit will somehow pray for me in an inexpressible way. Thank You for this great comfort to my soul.

Help me to pray in a way that is pleasing to You Lord, even when the words will not come. Help me to hate what is evil and cling to what is good. Help me be kind to others in love, and honour other people above myself. Please Lord, help me to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer, even when I don’t know what to pray.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Prayers-on-Learning-How-to-Pray

8.  SONG

 https://youtu.be/ETpnBXl8C0g?si=ELolIdl7xTKeVblH

 

Finding joy along the way

 

1.  PRAYER

Dear Father,

You are the God of peace, the one who calms storms with a word and holds all things together. You are not surprised by anything that shakes us. You know everything about us. Matthew 10:30 (ESV) tells us that “even the hairs of your head are all numbered.” You see what is hidden, you understand what is confusing, and you are able to bring good out of what feels unbearable. I praise you for your power, your patience, and your steady hand over all creation.

I confess that even though I know these truths about you, I often give more attention to the chaos than to your promises. I look at the news, my responsibilities, my relationships, or my fears, and I forget that Christ is still on the throne. I let anxiety rule my heart instead of the peace you offer. I cling to control, wanting solutions on my terms, and I resist the unity you have called your people to live in. My pride, impatience, and self-protection get in the way of harmony, trust, and gratitude. Please forgive me for doubting your goodness and for acting as if peace is out of reach.

Thank you that you do not turn away when my faith wavers. You are patient and kind, even when I am restless and unsure. You have promised that “the peace of Christ” can rule in my heart, not as a temporary relief, but as a steady and quiet strength. Thank you for calling us into one body, for reminding us that we do not walk alone, and for providing joy even in difficult days.

Lord, help me to live out Colossians 3:15 in both belief and practice. Teach me to let Christ rule in my heart instead of my fears. When conflict arises, help me seek unity in your name. When life feels loud, draw my attention back to you. Replace my urge to demand my own way with a desire to listen, love, and follow your lead. Take the chaos around me and shape it according to your good purposes. 

Help me to be grateful for the experiences you give me. Help me to show gratitude for the growth you are producing in the trials I face. Let your peace guard my thoughts, direct my decisions, and quiet my worries. And when I forget, gently remind me that your peace is not fragile, but is rooted in Christ himself.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

2.  MEDITATION

https://youtu.be/ZToicYcHIOU?si=b1PjEVV0CKb7paaC

3.  SONG

https://youtu.be/bFr_nJVRXGA?si=1D_IhKXHHzKxGc99

4.  NARRATIVE

According to Franciscan priest Richard Rohr, joy is both a conscious decision and a profound surrender. Rather than an external mood, true spiritual joy coexists with life’s pain, arising when we let go of control, embrace radical acceptance, and notice the sacred goodness in everyday moments. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Core Principles of Joy

A Choice and a Surrender: Joy is deciding to value what is good while surrendering the need to control life's outcomes.
Mixed with Sorrow: Deep spiritual joy does not erase grief; instead, it lives right alongside our shared human tears and vulnerability.
A Long, Loving Look: True presence comes from contemplation—simply paying attention to the real world with awe and wonder.
Found in the Small Things: Joy thrives in simple, ordinary acts, nature, humor, and quiet community connections. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]


Tears of Joy and Sadness
Sunday, June 15, 2025
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.  
—Galatians 5:22–23  
In the Christian Scriptures, we are reminded that joy is a fruit of the Spirit in all circumstances. Father Richard Rohr describes a personal experience of simultaneous deep sadness and profound joy.  
In 1985 my Franciscan superiors gave me a year’s leave to spend in contemplation. It was a major turning point in my life and ultimately led to the formation of the Center for Action and Contemplation. The first thirty days of my “sabbatical” were spent in the hills of Kentucky, in Thomas Merton’s hermitage at Gethsemani Abbey. I was absolutely alone with myself, with the springtime woods, and with God, hoping to somehow absorb some of Merton’s wisdom. That first morning, it took me a while to slow down. I must have looked at my watch at least ten times before 7:00 AM! I had spent so many years standing in front of crowds as a priest and a teacher. I had to find out who I was alone before God without those trappings. 
Walter Burghardt’s definition of contemplation as “a long loving look at the real” became transformative for me. The world, my own issues and hurts, all my goals and desires gradually dissolved and fell into proper perspective. God became obvious and ever present. I understood what Merton meant when he said, “The gate of heaven is everywhere.” [1] 
I tried to keep a journal of what was happening to me. Back then, I found it particularly hard to cry. But one evening I laid my finger on my cheek and found to my surprise that it was wet. I wondered what those tears meant. What was I crying for? I wasn’t consciously sad or consciously happy. I noticed at that moment that behind it all there was a joy, deeper than any private joy. It was a joy in the face of the beauty of being, a joy at all the wonderful and lovable people I had already met in my life. Cosmic or spiritual joy is something we participate in; it comes from elsewhere and flows through us. It has little or nothing to do with things going well in our own life at that moment. I remember thinking that this must be why the saints could rejoice in the midst of suffering. 
At the same moment, I experienced exactly the opposite emotion. The tears were at the same time tears of an immense sadness—a sadness at what we’re doing to the earth, sadness about the people whom I had hurt in my life, and sadness too at my own mixed motives and selfishness. I hadn’t known that two such contrary feelings could coexist. I was truly experiencing the nondual mind of contemplation. 
References: 
[1] Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander (Doubleday, 1966), 142. 
Adapted from Richard Rohr, What the Mystics Know: Seven Pathways to Your Deepest Self (Crossroad, 2015), 61–63. 
Ya’ Wahyu, untitled (detail), 2024, photo, Unsplash. Click here to enlarge image. Two children splash in sun-warmed water: every droplet and ripple radiating joy. 


Where do you see small, quiet moments of peace in your day?

How does your definition of "grace" change when life gets loud and heavy?
What does it mean to rely on God's strength instead of your own?

5. MEDITATION

https://youtu.be/Er4oqBGuhkw?si=1zeKiwI4IspFYB6B

6.  SHARING

https://youtu.be/_QfXpQqRRW8?si=WTf3vYndhyS6AKqr




7.  PRAYER AND INTENTIONS




Dear God...

We ask for joy in our lives. Help us to find happiness in the simple things and to share our joy with others. Let our laughter and smiles be contagious, spreading positivity wherever we go. May we find joy even in the midst of challenges. 

Thank you for the moments of joy that brighten our days. Help us to cherish them and to seek out more opportunities for happiness. May we find joy in our relationships, celebrating the connections we have with family and friends. Help us to recognize the beauty and wonder in the world around us, finding joy in nature and the everyday miracles of life. 

Guide us to be sources of joy for others, bringing light and happiness into their lives. Let us approach each day with a joyful heart, grateful for the opportunities and experiences that come our way. Thank you for the gift of joy. Help us to embrace it fully and to spread it generously to those around us. 

Amen.

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." 

- Philippians 4:4




8.  SONG

https://youtu.be/ZEAtX4UA-Mc?si=0mDZNGMh14TMkMBa