Seeing God ~ Deacon Brendan Brides

It's unlikely in this day and age that anyone would be found picking kernels of grain in a field on Cape Cod on the Sabbath or on any other day for that matter. Two thousand years ago the disciples were rebuked for picking the kernels of grain on the Sabbath, even though they were hungry, because the Sabbath was to be given up to contemplation and adoration of the Lord and nothing else. We live in a busy world now, even Sundays are busy. Besides attending Sunday Mass, what would be another way of becoming connected with Our Lord on the Sabbath?

Some years ago a young man worked for me. He was a very good worker and a person of sound character. unfortunately, his life was taken over by a horrible drug addiction. He stopped working for me and eventually, through the grace of God, he sought medical help for his addiction. In keeping with the requirements of the recovery process of N.A. he made contact with me some years later with the intention of mending any damage that he may have caused to our relationship. We went to lunch and he shared with me that he had been clean for a month. He went on to describe how amazed he was every morning when he woke up and went out into the world to find incredible beauty in his surroundings, in nature and in the people he met. His constant drug induced stupor had prevented him from seeing the beauty of the world that Jesus offers us.

Perhaps this Sunday, or any other day for that matter, we could learn from Joey and look through the haze of life to see the beauty that Jesus invites us to share with Him.