Finding God in the Tiny Whisper

Last updated on: August 7, 2011 at 4:31 pm by Father Pablo Migone

Finding God in the Tiny Whisper 2011-08-07T16:31:00-05:00 Father Pablo Migone

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

This weekend I had the opportunity to cover at the parish in Douglas and its missions. I was there as a seminarian in 2005 and always enjoy returning to Saint Paul in Douglas, Holy Family in Willacoochee and Saint William in Fitzgerald. Here is this weekend’s homily.

Where do you find God? Where in your daily or weekly routine do you encounter the presence of God?

Some people say they encounter God in the beauty of nature, when they see a beautiful sunset or majestic mountains. Others experience God’s presence when they stand in awe at the mystery of life. Hopefully we all encounter God each Sunday when we gather to hear God’s Word and receive His Body and Blood at Mass.

We each encounter God in different ways, and much of it depends on our disposition and preparedness. God certainly wants to be found by us, it’s up to us to seek Him. God isn’t playing hide-and-go-seek, He is always in our midst, but we have to tune into Him. This process is much like listening to the radio. Radio waves are invisible, we cannot see them, but they’re there. We need a radio tuned to the right station for us to hear the sound. In the same manner, we must tune our minds and hearts to God (who is already present) to hear His voice.

Sometimes we think God only reveals Himself with the parting of clouds, rolling thunder and a mighty strong voice. Grant it, we hear accounts throughout Scripture where this happens like at Mount Sinai, the Transfiguration and the Baptism of Jesus.

Sometimes we think of saints who received apparitions of Jesus and the Virgin Mary and wonder if it’s possible for us to have such a real and tangible experience of God.

The fact is that 99.99% of the times, God does not reveal Himself with rolling thunder and in special visions. God manifests Himself in the same way He manifested himself to Elijah.

In today’s first reading we hear how Elijah looked for God in the mighty wind, but did not find him there. He then looked in an earthquake, but did not find him there. He then looked in the fire, but did not find him there. Elijah finally found God in a tiny whispering sound.

God speaks in whispers and we must find the time to listen. This means we have to turn off the noise. We have to turn off the radio, we have to turn off the TV, we have to turn off all these new gadgets that beep constantly for the sake of keeping us connected. Turn off the cell phone and find some quiet time alone. Find time to quiet your heart, to let your mind rest from all the stimulation that surrounds you and allow God to take over your thoughts. Prayer is but a conversation with God, spending time with God in meditation.

Use this quiet time to read Scripture, to read a spiritual book, to find a bit of silence in your daily routine, even if it’s just five minutes. Go for quality, not quantity.

Through this very simple and ordinary practice, a bit of silence, you will tune in better to God. God will speak in whispers and you will recognize His gentle nudges and sweet voice.

The Gospel passage narrates a scene opposite from the peace and quiet I’ve been describing. We hear of turbulence, fear and noise in the Sea of Galilee when a storm shakes up the boat of the disciples. This scene of Jesus walking towards his disciples in the storm reflects the storms of our own life: the noise, the busyness, the anxiety, the worries of daily life. In the midst of the storm of our daily life it is easy to lose sight of Jesus and drown in the same way Peter began to drown. We can easily get swept up by the storm when we lose sight of Jesus Christ.

When a storm comes into our life, we often tend to move away from God, and we do this at our own peril. I often hear people say, “life got so busy, so we stopped going to Church.” “Taking care of my elderly father consumed all my time, I was so tired; I had no time to pray.” “After my husband died, I stopped going to Church all together.”

When the storm comes, we should be like Peter, look at Jesus and beg, “Jesus, save me!” and Jesus will save us. Jesus is there to help us through the storm, He does not want the storm to sweep us away. When the storm is at full blast, that is the moment to hold on firmer to Christ, not the moment to let go.

We know that Jesus often went up to a mountain to pray, to spend time alone. Many times I’ve thought, “If Jesus, the Son of God, needed time to pray and be alone in the presence of God, then I certainly need it too!”

It is good then to take time each day, even if it’s only five minutes, to find God, to touch basis with Him. This will strengthen your faith and will strengthen you so that when the storm comes, you will be prepared to persevere by God’s grace. May this Eucharist, where God manifests Himself without any fireworks, thunder or lightning, but in the ordinary and silent bread and wine, be for us a moment of silence and prayer. May it be a moment for us to find Our Lord and a moment to be strengthened by His grace, so we may always persevere in our faith.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

August 4, 2011

Imagenes o Idolos?

Next Post

August 8, 2011 Life of Saint Dominic with Pictures

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Article Catholic Lima Christmas Commentary History Homily Immigration martyrs Meditation Pope Reflection Saint Story Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 January 2010 June 2009 September 2008 August 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Apocalypse" mean in Greek?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Revelation The End Destruction God's Wrath