One of my mentors and friends, Edwina Gateley, wrote a beautiful children’s book a while back called, “God Goes to Church.” In it God starts reading a book about God (the Bible) and gets curious because it says that people should go to a place on the holy day and pray and worship God. So God decides to visit earth and “see what all those people did in those special places.” So God and a fun-loving angel named Stardrop visit earth and then find themselves very disappointed with the rules, regulations, rigidity and discrimination found in those spaces. God and Stardop end up stopping by a park – where people are outdoors, laughing and playing with each other and enjoying time together. And God whispers, “This…is the best church of all…”
Where does God dwell?
In our first reading from 1 Kings today, King Solomon has built a massive and expensive temple for God. In the inner sanctum – the holy of the holies – the “ark of the covenant” which carried the stone tablets with the 10 commandments is installed and we’re told that the cloud that had followed the ark (God’s presence) comes to rest in the temple. Then Solomon says that they have truly built God a “dwelling place.”
I would imagine that many of us can relate to the idea of God being in a certain place. If you grew up catholic (and were raised long enough ago), you may remember that every church had a tabernacle where the consecrated hosts were kept. Right next to the tabernacle was usually a candle in a red holder that was always burning – as a sign that Jesus was “present” in the eucharist.
While the candle indicated that “Jesus was present,” I would submit that the behaviors of so many of his followers in that space might have indicated otherwise! Just ask God and Stardrop…
In the gospel from Mark 6, Jesus and his disciples are crossing the water, moving through the countryside and milling about in the marketplace. And it is in these places that everyone was coming to him to be healed and made well. God (in the person of Jesus) was not bound by a singular building but was instead in the everyday spaces where people lived, worked and met.
Acts 7:48 reminds us that “God does not live in a building made by carpenters and masons…” God lives in our hearts and in the world. And while there may be buildings that are considered holy places and holy spaces, God can be found anywhere.
Sadly, this is not what many of us were taught, and we generally have a lot of unlearning to do so that we may start to experience God more fully in our own lives, in our own relationships and in the world around us. Lest we forget:
Moses found God in a burning bush and on a mountain.
Elijah found God in the wind.
Jacob found God in dreams.
Jesus found God in the desert.
Peter found God while working.
Mary Magdalene found God at an empty grave.
The disciples found God while traveling to Emmaus.
And God said that God would be found in “the least.”
Perhaps as we move through our week, we can work to pay attention to God’s presence all around us. Yes, we may find God in church, and hopefully we find God everywhere else as well.
Note: One way to find God everywhere is to increase our capacities for awareness. And one way to increase our capacity for awareness is through centering prayer. If you are able to join us on Wednesday, Feb 7 from 7 – 8:30pm (online or in the Nielsen room), Chris Phillips will be leading a session on centering prayer. It is an introduction that will help us answer questions and practice. We hope that you can join us. Please register at https://spirituschristi.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/225/responses/new
Chris is also helping to host a weekly series (see below). If Interested, please write to him directly at sunlightoftheheart@outlook.com
| JOURNEY THROUGH LENT, JOURNEY OF CONSENT February 15th – March 28th Thursdays, 10:30 am-12 Noon |
5 Comments
Peter Veitch
Thank you for this reflection. While I appreciate sacred places, my belief is that God dwells in each of us. When I respond to sacred environments, whether it is the Grand Canyon, the great basilicas of Christendom, the ocean shoreline, I realize the awe striking moment is a reminder of that awesome being in my soul and in every person.
Peace to all, happy Monday!
Mary Climes
I look forward to your reflections each week and the way they expand my thinking. Thank you, Mike. You inspire goodness.
Indeed the Holy Spirit is within each of us, and we therefore can become aware of God everywhere and anywhere.
I also believe that the sanctuary lamp was correct. God was there in the tabernacle in the Eucharist. Unfortunately, humans do evil and wicked deeds that cause incredible pain and harm, but I don’t believe that ever diminishes God’s presence. God is with us.
Claire Benesch
Thank you, Mike, for these weekly reflections. Even though I was brought up Catholic, I was a member of a Lutheran church for 40 years before coming to Spiritus after the death of my husband. In that church there is a sanctuary lamp even though there is no tabernacle. A vivid reminder that God was also very present in that space. God is present in my home, not only when I’m praying but all the time. But most important, God is present in me and every person I meet. Thank you for reminding me of this fact.
Chris Adams
I am aligned with the sentiment of finding God everywhere (especially in friendly dogs). But I also see conflicting messages in the Bible. It’s not of serious concern to me because I assume the answer is “Do both” or “Do all”. For example, Mt 18:20 “Wherever two or more…” implies coming together, whether in a church building or elsewhere. Yet Jesus says in Mt 6:5-8 to go to a private room and pray in secret. As a separate thought, echoed by others already, God is present in each of us. What a difficult challenge for me! Constant reminders are needed.
Barbara Simmons
Even though I believe that God is omnipresent in every person, place, and moment, I still feel there is something sacred about the physical space of a church, temple, or mosque., etc. I feel there is a reverence to what the space conveys, ie God’s House.
God certainly exists in the sun, the wind, the trees, the waters, and the mountains. I believe, too, that He surrounds us in times of stress such as a car crash or on the battlefield. He is an ever present companion who offers solace and support in times of suffering.
I hope I am not confusing two different concepts..
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