The Miracle is You

After the crippled man in Lystra responded to Paul’s command to, “Stand up straight on your feet,” the nearby crowds cried out, “The gods have come down to us in human form.” They had just witnessed, firsthand, a miracle. Then, much to the dismay of Paul and Barnabas, the same crowd gathered oxen and garlands to sacrifice in honor of the two of them, their new-found gods. Are we like the citizens of Lystra in that we need to see a miracle to be reminded of the power and constant presence of our God?

Hopefully our faith is such that we would be more apt to agree with Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. who wrote: "God is not remote from us. He is at the point of my pen, my pick, my paintbrush, my needle — and my heart and my thoughts" and that we feel enveloped in God and his endless love. And, as Ignatius instructed, we know how to “find God in all things.” Not just miracles that may happen in front of own eyes.

Even though Lent is a fading memory for many, we continue to challenge ourselves to pray, meditate and to “see without looking” for God’s loving presence and constant activity that permeates our daily lives and all the world around us. We strengthen our faith by setting aside time to reflect about the countless “miracles” that are personally occurring each and every day to us individually and all around us; and to not let our faith lay dormant, waiting to personally witness a miracle on the street - or on YouTube - before we are reminded of God’s presence in our lives. But, if you do need to see a miracle to strengthen your faith all you need to do is look in the mirror, for the miracle is you.