Sacramental Presence of God

 

Humans cannot live with God who is not merciful.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Thursday of 17th Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, August 3rd, 2023
Texts: Exodus 40:16-21.34-38; Psalm 83:3-6,8,11; Matthew 13:47-53 

Today’s message is about God who dwells among His people sacramentally. Today’s first reading relays to us the setting up of ark of the covenant according to God’s instructions. The ark of the covenant is the sacramental presence of God among His people. We read, “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” It is in the answer to the request of Moses: "If now I have found favour in your sight, O Lord, let the Lord, I pray you, go in the midst of us”. 

We see in this sacramental presence of God the nature of God who dwells with humans. It is God who shows mercy. We read, “And he took the covenant and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark, and set the mercy seat above on the ark”. The mercy seat reveals that God dwells with them in mercy. Humans cannot live with God who is not merciful, gracious and forgiving. Hence, Moses said in his request, “go in the midst of us, although it is a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance."  

The sacramental presence of God continued in the Blessed Sacrament

God continued to lead the people by His sacramental presence. We read, “Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would go onward; but if the cloud was not taken then they did not go onward till the day that it was taken up.” This sacramental presence of God continued in the Blessed Sacrament. The Blessed Sacrament reveals the God of mercy, love, grace and truth who lives with us. This God lives in us when we receive Holy Communion.  

The people became the kingdom of God through the sacramental presence of God among them. This is because God led, guarded and guided them by His sacramental presence. This God eliminates evil by His mercy. This is what Jesus Christ makes clear in today’s gospel reading; God separates evil from the righteous in His kingdom. He says, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net which was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; when it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into vessels but threw away the bad.” 

Prayer 

God, we thank You for the number of ways You have been present among us, humans; we also thank You for Your mercy which we enjoy always, may we not abuse it. Amen  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke