The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

June 8, 2025 – Pentecost Sunday, John 14:15-16, 23-26 or John 20:19-23

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
Download this simple process to Prepare for Sunday using the Observe, Judge, Act Method

Many years ago, when I was in Catholic grade school, I recall hearing from our nun teacher telling us that God saw everything we did. This idea was communicated to us in case any of us Catholic kids thought that we might not be punished when we did something against God’s rules. When God was not looking. Impossible, she said. God was always looking.  

I’m fairly sure that my nun teacher was well intentioned, but she seemed to have left out the belief that God is always present to us. Later (thank God) I learned better news that God remains close to us through all our joys and sufferings.

Here’s a brief summary of how the Bible describes God’s presence. Think of it as three chapters in a total narrative. Chapter one, primarily in the Book of Genesis, describes God at work in Creation during a time of six days. We might think of this as God being present at the very beginning. Next, chapter two, we have God becoming human in the person of Jesus. It begins with the angel’s visit to Mary and ends with Jesus ascending into heaven. Finally, in act three, God is present in the coming of God’s Spirit at Pentecost, today’s feast. And that presence continues to this present moment.

Theologians and biblical scholars will enhance the meaning of these three acts in many ways. As does the Bible itself. But the main point is that we are not alone. God has made a decision to come and remain with us all the days of our lives.  Like my nun teacher said eons ago to a group of wide-eyed Catholic kids in my third-grade class. God is always there.

Now come the Big Question? Are we present to God? Are we aware that God is with us or are we too distracted with other matters? There is no question that there is a lot of noise in our lives. Some of this is manifest in anxiety, worries and fears about personal survival and the challenges and situations faced by those close to us. We might also worry with a  big concern about the political machinations around us both near and far. We worry about our health, our finances and so many issues involving our own personal and common survival.

Add to these distractions is the “noise” of daily life. Today we are assaulted by contemporary communications, from the alarming reports in the daily newspaper, television and most “noisy” of all, the noise that comes to use through the internet and social media. To repeat, God is always with us but are we with God? Can we step away from all that noise and enter the quiet silence of God with us?

David M. Thomas, PhD