9 February. SEE: God’s Presence. After their youth group meeting Portia came home to the family with the question, “How can a person know that God is present somewhere?”  “Mass, faith, prayer,” were some of the answers. “The Old estament people believed God was there with them in a cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night.  Jesus physically healed people, even when they just touched him. We seldom see such manifestations but there are many signs of a Creator in many different ways like in the beauty of nature. In relationships of love, e.g. a young couple or an old couple like some of you, we believe that God is present, Should we not make up a special way to honour God, build a temple or a shrine, or a little home altar and invite God to be with us there too at all times, good and bad where we can pray for our own and all the needs of the world?” Josephine added, “like children who suffer because of war, illness and abuse? ‘

JUDGE, reflect and share.  Scripture:  When the priests came out of the holy place a cloud filled the house of the Lord, and the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. Solomon said, ‘I have built you an exalted house, a place for you to dwell in for ever.” 1 Kings 8:9-13 Pope Francis.  To sense each creature singing the hymn of its existence is to live joyfully in God’s love and hope.” LS 85   We can say that alongside revelation in sacred Scripture, there is a divine manifestation in the blaze of the sun and the fall of night. Married couples shape with different daily gestures a God-enlightened space in which to experience the hidden presence of the risen Lord.  AL317.   

ACT AND PRAY:   Look around and pray for the grace to see God’s presence in your own life. February 8th was the feast day of St Josephine Bakhita, kidnapped and enslaved as a young girl, but rescued and became a convert and religious. She is the patron saint for the fight against human trafficking. Check out how this problem is still a reality in our own world and pray that all people will eventually be free to recognise and worship God.