March 4/Third Monday of Lent
As the hind longs for the running waters, so my soul longs for you, O God.Athirst is my soul for God, the living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God? ~ Ps 42.2-3
The rise of the so-called “Nones,” who do not identify with any religious institution, has been widely reported for years; the media seems to delight in charting it. I’ve often wondered about the different story that would emerge if the word “Nones” were replaced with “Seekers.” Because in many cases, people are not giving up on God; they are giving up on the flawed human institutions that are meant to channel God’s justice, love, and mercy to the world but that often don’t seem just, or loving, or merciful themselves. Many people long to see the light of God’s face, to experience the peace that passes understanding, to rest on God’s holy mountain. They may not think in those terms, but they are full of a yearning that twentieth-century Christian apologist C. S. Lewis called “the incommunicable and unappeasable want.” Similarly, in our reading from 2 Kings (one of my all-time favorites), the Aramean general Naaman – valiant, highly decorated, and afflicted with leprosy – longs to be healed, but doesn’t know where to find what he needs. Then the little maid from Israel, servant to Naaman’s wife, pipes up to suggest that he seek help from the God of Israel, through the prophet Elisha. How might we model ourselves after this little maid? All of us know Seekers – they may be our children, our siblings, or friends who have drifted away from the church. Might we not reach out to them with the hand of hospitality, inviting them to join us in seeking the peace that only God gives? And if we ourselves cannot be the agents of healing or reconciliation, we can pray that God will send into their lives people who will share with them the gladness and joy of a life of faith.
O God of light and faithfulness, May our yearning lead us to a deeper knowledge and a greater love of you. Amen.
For today’s readings, click here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030424.cfm
To hear The Sixteen (under the direction of Harry Christophers) sing Herbert Howells’ “Like As the Hart,” click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=___rIGFkAnc
