Isaiah 55:6, "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near," presents to the faithful an urgency to unite ourselves with God. As a teenager, I considered anything religious, especially attending Mass or praying the Rosary, as something older adults engaged in. Seeking time with God was something for retirement when you were winding down living your life—where could you find the time with school, work, family, and leisure activities engulfing every time slot on your calendar? Then, my first friend died unexpectedly, never reaching adulthood, never mind retirement; suddenly, I realized tomorrow is not promised, and my priorities were misaligned. Although desiring to make God my number one priority and accepting Jesus' teaching regarding putting God above all earthly concerns, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well" (Matthew 6:33), I was still unsure where to begin. Where is God found? Simply put, God is everywhere. In the book of Jeremiah, we are offered a simple formula for uncovering God in our lives, "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:12-13).
Missing the Obvious
Ironically, I knew the answer all along (at least part of it) — attending Mass and prayer, especially the Rosary—the very practices I'd determined were reserved for those preparing to leave this world. A relationship with the Triune God is not a safety net, a remedy for our mortal soul, but a great gift meant to be opened and used now and not saved for a special occasion.
How many families tuck their best dishes into a cabinet for special occasions? It may be years between uses, barely touched before they pass to another generation, or donated when we downsize or die. The giver of those precious dishes intended for them to be enjoyed; why wait? As I learned so long ago, tomorrow is never promised. Embrace this day and all it has to offer, most importantly, the gift Jesus offers us in calling Him "friend" (John 15:15). As in any friendship, frequent communication is required to build and retain a strong bond. If you only spoke to a friend on Christmas and Easter, how well would you know that person?
Where to Seek
So, back to the original question, "Where do we seek God?" Our Catholic faith points us to many fruitful places—prayer, sacraments, scripture, and works of mercy—to name a few. In prayer, God offers us a unique opportunity to enter into conversation with Him and other holy men and women in heaven; as St. John Damascene said, "Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God." The Rosary provides the faithful a comprehensive way to enter into prayer as it includes a blessing of oneself, the profession of faith, requesting an increase in virtue, meditating on the life of Christ alongside Mary—the person who knew Him best—and so much more.
Lent provides a dedicated season to seek God as we engage more purposefully in the practices of prayer, almsgiving, and fasting. Reflect on each area, ask for the Holy Spirit's guidance, and discuss how to move faith to the top of your priority list as a family. Where can you increase prayer in your daily life? Can your family find time to recite at least one decade together? Do you attend Mass as a family every weekend? What obstacles need to be removed to assure you keep the Lord's Day holy? When did you last visit the Sacrament of Reconciliation—where we find Jesus waiting to release us from the burden of our sins? How can your family bring Christ into the world with charity and service to those in need, both those poor in spirit as well as in material poverty?
Don't Delay
Seek the Lord while He may be found. Seek and know He will be found; we can trust in His promises. Use this precious season of Lent to stop putting off growing in holiness and faith; tomorrow is never promised. "For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened," (Luke 11:10). Where will you seek for God?
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