He talks about fields and fishing nets. He has done that the last few weeks in the Gospels for one simple reason: to tell us about the Kingdom of His Father.
Often times we pursue extraordinary things. We try to push further and go farther. Sometimes, that is not bad. If we do it all the time, we will probably be quite restless. We will also miss things. We may miss the message of the Kingdom.
Many actions make up our daily lives. We have to stop at the supermarket, pick up the dry cleaning, and fill the car with gas. Our ordinary daily tasks may seem random, unconnected, and even repetitive.
But God loves to hide in the ordinary.
The noted thirteenth-century Carthusian spiritual writer named Hugh of Balma taught that God, in a way that is faster than our human thinking, makes countless varied attempts every day—hundreds or thousands of times, day, or night—to draw the human soul to himself, train us in his ways, and renew us according to his will. This is what God did for Solomon in today’s first reading. God made His message known in a dream.
Saint Alphonsus Liguori tells us that when we sleep at night God is closer to us than the very pillow on which we lay our heads, and that even during the night God does not want our conversation with him to pause.
The psalmist confirms this: “If you try my heart, if you visit me by night, if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me ...” (Ps 17:3) and “By day may the LORD send his mercy, and by night may his righteousness be with me!” (Ps 42:8 NAB). The Catechism of the Catholic Church notes that God always takes the initiative in calling us to prayer, and He is tireless in doing so.
As summer progresses, let’s listen to find God in the ordinary places so He can be the One to show us His mysteries.
God bless,
Msgr. Bransfield
