To See the Invisible
Continuing our Advent journey, let us now enter into what seems to be a paradox in the spiritual life, namely: to “see the Invisible.” Since the Second Sunday of Advent presents us with the voice as a basic element in helping us perceive what is imperceptible to our senses, it might almost be called the “Sunday of the Voice.” In fact, the voice is a distinguishing feature of God’s relationship with human beings and thus can help us discover how to approach him.
God revealed himself to Elijah “in a light, murmuring sound” and he continues to reveal himself down the ages through the voices of those who have the courage to speak about him and witness to him. It is through these voices that the Lord enters the lives of human beings, making visible the Invisible so that we are able to grasp what cannot be seen.
It is precisely this mode of behavior that points out the path to be taken: we must follow the “small, murmuring voice,” which opens our eyes to situations and signs that are at times almost undetectable, revealing a God who, as St. Ignatius would say, enters our life “like a drop of water penetrating a sponge.”
Jesus, the Word, reminds us that anyone who has seen him has seen the Father. But words must be voiced if they are to be heard, otherwise they will simply remain in the realm of thought. Like John the Baptist, our voice too is destined to disappear, to dissipate, because it is simply an instrument through which the Word can be incarnated. In the end, all that remains is the Word, which “must increase while I must decrease.” It is necessary that we bear witness to our beliefs, to our interior life. Applied to our daily activities, this means living coherently–something not as simple as it might seem! We are not Christians only when we enter a church; we must be Christians everywhere, at all times, so that everyone we meet is able to see God.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, you spoke through the prophets.
Give us eyes to see you,
ears to hear you,
nostrils to detect your aroma,
hands outstretched to our neighbor
and the passion to be a voice for your words.
