Sometimes we may think to ourselves that we can hide from God. Since we don’t see God with our eyes, it is tempting to think that God is not there.
This is one of the reasons why many of the most grievous sins we commit are at night time, in the dark. We think that the darkness can somehow hide us from God’s presence.
Yet, that is not possible. God is always with us, as a letter of St. Clement to the Corinthians explains.
Since all things lie open to his eyes and ears, let us hold him in awe and rid ourselves of impure desires to do works of evil, so that we may be protected by his mercy from the judgement that is to come. Which of us can escape his mighty hand? What world will give asylum to one who deserts him? Where will I go, where will I hide from your face? If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go to the limits of the earth, your right hand is there; if I lie down in the deep, your spirit is there. Where, then, can one go, where can one escape to, from the presence of him whose hands embrace the universe?
This goes not only for our exterior actions, but also our interior thoughts.
Let us observe how near he is, and that nothing escapes him: not the thoughts we think, not the arguments we construct. It is right, therefore, that we should not be deserters from his will.
While it might feel oppressive to always be in the presence of God, it is meant to be a reassuring reality.
God is always with us, ready to comfort us as a loving and merciful Father. He watches us and looks after our every need.
It is good news that we can’t escape his presence!
We are never alone, and even if we feel abandoned by God, he is in fact there, right beside us.
Instead of trying to run away from God, let us run to God, as the Prodigal Son ran to his loving father.
When we embrace the presence of God, we no longer try to live a lie.
And today we celebrate...