Today’s readings should shock us! First we hear of Sarah doing something unjust and downright nasty. Then we hear Matthew's version of Jesus' encounter with the demonic on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
It is shocking to hear how Sarah, indeed an Old Testament saint, Abraham’s wife, and the mother of the chosen people, mistreats her slave Hagar whom she herself had given to Abraham so he would have this child Ishmael.
Then we hear of strange spiritual warfare between Jesus and a legion of demons! The Bible does not hide from the mysterious strangeness of our life: the complexity and difficulties of our families and the reality of evil in our history!
No wonder the hauntingly perplexing question: Where is God? The two texts reveal the answer: In the Powerful Presence of Love.
Who is God? He Himself is this Powerful Presence of Love. He sees clearly the injustice done to Hagar and Ishmael and responds- in His Way! For Him the confrontation with a army of demons is not difficult. This is because of His powerful presence of love.
Yet still, finding Him and understanding His ways can seem elusive.
We need to keep returning to Him, to the encounter, to His presence. PRAYER. But not simply briefly asking his help now and then, resulting in something superficial.
Rather, deeper meditative prayer, a remaining in His presence. Letting Him dwell in us.
Communion. Listening. Coming to know Him. Letting that Powerful Presence of Love enter our souls to illumine our darkness, forgive and wash clean our sin, drive out fear, transform us, make us like unto Him, even to make of us vessels of His Powerful Presence.
For this Our Lady has given us the Holy Rosary.
Pray it faithfully. Pray it peacefully and deeply. Pray it in the Powerful Presence of Love.
Holy Martyrs of Rome, help us to manifest Christ as you have done.
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, pray for us.
