Wednesday, August 1, 2018 – An Emotional Reminder

Here’s an experiment: Go to a mirror . . . ideally one in a decently lit room. (Most bathrooms are, of course, ideal.) Cover one eye good and tight with your hand. Look at your other eye in the mirror. Wait a bit — 30 to 60 seconds or so. Then uncover the eye and look at it in the mirror. Do you see the iris contracting as it adjusts to the light? Depending on your eyesight, you might even be able to see the individual fibers of your iris adjust to provide the optimal amount of light to your pupil.

Take a moment. Think about how utterly amazing that is. You almost certainly can’t focus your iris on its own, but your body knows the optimal amount of light it needs, and works near-invisibly to provide you what you need.

If, for some reason, you don’t have full use of your eyes, and can’t perform this experiment: You’re encountering these words in some way. Regardless of how these words reach you, that method is, in its own way, “miraculous.” A computerized screen reader? It’s translating individual digital 1’s and 0’s into words you can hear. A friend reading this to you? An amazing testament to the power of friendship, or the wonder of a working society.

Most often, the daily readings awaken in me some intellectual curiosity: “Hmm . . . here’s something I haven’t thought about,” or “what about this point of view?” Today’s readings, however, sparked a different reaction: emotion.

Don’t just listen to how today’s readings begin. Feel it: “Woe to me, mother, that you gave me birth! a man of strife and contention to all the land! I neither borrow nor lend, yet all curse me.” This is not an intellectual argument; it’s raw feelings, made tangible in words. The pain there is tangible, but then it reverses at the end: “For I am with you, to deliver and rescue you, says the LORD. I will free you from the hand of the wicked, and rescue you from the grasp of the violent.”

Similarly, the Gospel selection from Matthew isn’t trying to make an intellectual argument as to why you should want to get to Heaven; it’s drawing entirely on passion, on emotion, to make you feel what that reward is: “like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

In a way, our minds aren’t able to process the “miracles” in our lives. The gift of our daily breaths, the adjustment of our eyes, the flow of our societies, the bodily presence of our Lord in the Eucharist, the absolute forgiveness of sins for those who seek it, the sensation of salt on our tongue, the bud of a flower providing food for a bee, the way our skins knit themselves whole when cut, the way God Himself was willing to be pierced to death to save the world, the sacrifice of countless parents who care for their children, the untold martyrs who gave their lives to deliver and protect the Word . . .

. . . all of these blow my mind if I think about them. All of them fill my heart with an overwhelming gratitude, a boundless joy.

I challenge you today, then, to feel. Feel something in regard to your Lord. If you haven’t lately, think of some aspect of the faith that you have a hard time wrapping your mind around, and then don’t try to wrap your mind around it . . . just feel the awe, the power, the glory. If you have a loving spouse, think of your worst character trait, and then count the days and years that spouse has dealt with that trait . . . and then marvel in the wonder and emotion of a God-sanctified marriage.

If your emotions run too deep to despair or sadness, consider not shying away from them. Understand that God has felt similar anger, at moneylenders who defile His temples and at those who turn away from justice. And God has felt sadness similar to our greatest sorrows, as Jesus gave his life on the Cross, and as His chosen people drifted away in sin and selfishness. The fear and sorrow of Jesus’ disciples, staring at him on the Cross. The frustration of Abraham as he futilely sought 10 righteous people in Sodom and Gomorrah. Words fail to convey these, and we’re left with emotion . . . emotion that God knows and understands, and has used to bring us closer to Him.

But, if possible, feel joy. Joy that God is with you, joy at the countless miracles that keep the world spinning, joy at the gifts you’ve been given, joy at an ultimate future with your Lord that awaits you and is too great to fathom.

I admit that, for me, it’s possible to overthink our Faith at times . . . but — when it comes to the joy of our countless miracles — I’m not sure it’s possible to overfeel. Let our God-given emotions bring us closer to Him.

Today’s readings: Jer 15:10,16-21; Ps 59:2-3,4,10-11,17,18; Mt 13:44-46

About the Author

Despite being a professional writer and editor for over 15 years, Steven Marsh is more-or-less winging it when it comes to writing about matters of faith. Steven entered the church in 2005, and since then he's been involved with various ministries, including Pre-Cana marriage prep for engaged couples, religious education for kindergarteners, and Stephen Ministry's one-on-one caregiving. Steven lives in Indiana with his wife and son. Despite having read the entirety of the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, he's still surprised at elements he rediscovers or reflects upon in new ways. The more Steven learns about the faith, the less he feels he knows; he's keen to emphasize that any mistakes are his own.

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10 Comments

  1. Morning Steve. From someone who also uses his head more than his heart, your advice to listen to one’s emotions make sense. God bless.

  2. We’ll done Steve… well thought out… well communicated…. well felt! Sometimes I feel that we spend too much time worshiping our religion and too little time worshiping our triune God. One is a set of rules and a big to-do list and the other is a set of feelings. Loving God with all our heart, all our mind and all our soul and loving our neighbor as ourselves involves really experiencing the feeling of love… all else falls into place because of that love. It feels good just thinking about these things. Thanks for the reminder!

  3. Thanks Steven. You are so right on about the miracles of our God given lives. So many things to celebrate. Let’s go buy that field. Amazing!!!

  4. Thank you, Steve. The first commandment is one I struggle with—how to love my God with all my heart and soul when I don’t really know Him. I prayed on this, and on Good Friday a year and half ago, God answered my prayer by leading me to this website. Your reflections and those of the other writers has helped me tremendously in getting to know our Lord by better understanding His word. I appreciate the links to other sources mentioned by the writers and the community in their comments. May God’s peace be with you all.

  5. Just as I was thinking about my personal struggle, I read Sandi’s comment, above. This website has been helping me to understand so much more. As well, I have now obtained 2 books recommended by Steven Marsh some time ago: I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist and Don’t Know Much About the Bible. Although I have experienced hardships in life, I have been blessed in so many ways—getting through the hardships, with God’s help, has been a blessing, too, of course—yet something is missing. It sounds “silly”? to ask for someone to pray for me in my ongoing struggle, but I want more than anything to lead my children on the right path in life and I think they are becoming more close-minded. Unfortunately, I live in an isolated area where I cannot be part of a faith community and get support. Thank you to anyone who has sent a thought and a prayer my way today.

  6. Dear Anonymous,
    You are being prayed for this minute. Wherever you are the prayer will find you.

    Thank you, Steven, for a joy filled reflection.

  7. I live in a prayer filled community and I suppose I take it for granted. Consider this another prayer for you.

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