Living in the Presence of God

The biblical story of Jeremiah being called by God is a reminder that God knows us intimately in ways we do not know ourselves. God set Jeremiah apart to reflect and live in the presence of God.  God knew Jeremiah “before he was formed in the womb, consecrated him before he was born, and appointed him as a prophet to the nations.” 

Jeremiah did not respond enthusiastically to the call.  He protested that he did not know how to speak, “for I am only a boy.”  God, however, would not take no for an answer, but said to him, “Now I have put my words in your mouth.  Today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms.” The words of prophecy that Jeremiah would speak would both tear down and then build up God’s people.  The message was that they would be changed, transformed in order to live in the presence of God.

Today God calls us through the exemplary teachings and sacrifice of Jesus to live in such a way that we are aware of God’s presence in our lives.

The story of healing the “woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years” is a call to live in the presence of God and to keep the day of the week referred to as the Sabbath.   For Jews the Sabbath is Saturday; for Christians, the Sabbath is transferred to the day of resurrection, Sunday.  It is a day to give thanks to God for God’s presence in our lives; a time for refreshment, for spiritual nurturing, for worship, and for expressing our gratitude and love. 

Jesus in healing the disabled woman on the Sabbath demonstrated that God's compassion for people was more important than religious laws.  It was a way to reclaim the Sabbath for celebrating of God's mercy, kindness, and compassionate love for everyone.

The leader of the synagogue, however, was committed to obeying the letter of the law.  He objected because Jesus had cured on the Sabbath.  There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, but not on the Sabbath day. 

Jesus replied that if on the Sabbath you led your donkey from the manger to see that it had water, shouldn’t a human person also be freed from bondage on the Sabbath?  His statement resulted in a divided crowd: “his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.”

I recently visited a patient at the Evergreen Nursing and Rehabilitation Home in East Providence.  The person I met there wanted to show me places in the home where he liked to be during the day.  One was the lobby where we sat and talked, another was the café where people would gather for conversation or board games.  But the place that was most important was outside in a courtyard with trees, green grass, and chairs.  This was a place for him to commune with nature, a place of spiritual retreat from all the activities inside.  In a real sense it was a place of Sabbath rest. 

Jeremiah was aware of his call to bear witness to the presence of God in the life of his people.  Jesus understood the importance of healing the sick and those who were diseased in body or spirit, regardless of the day of the week.  The patient I visited was aware of God’s presence in the quiet courtyard of his nursing home. You and I live in the presence of God by choosing places of spiritual retreat and Sabbath rest.  The church is a sacred place for teaching us about living in the presence of God.  It is here that we receive the unshakable gift of God’s love and give thanks by offering to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe.  Amen.