God is in this place

Monday, July 10, 2017

Our first reading for today’s Mass was the story of Jacob and his vision of the ladder with angels ascending and descending. (Gen 28:10-22a) He was so moved by the vision that he named the place Bethel (=House of God) and he exclaimed: “Truly the Lord is in this spot, although I did not know it!”

I’d like to offer two brief reflections:

1) First of all, we don’t need to have a heavenly vision in order for us to exclaim “Truly the Lord is in this spot” because the Lord is in every spot, every place, every crevice and hidden pocket in the universe. Most especially, the Lord is with you right now in the place where you are. If only we could stay aware of this at all times!

2) Saint Benedict uses the image of Jacob’s ladder to introduce the chapter on humility in his Rule for Monasteries: “if we want to reach the highest summit of humility, if we desire to attain speedily that exaltation in heaven to which we climb by the humility of this present life, then by our ascending actions we must set up that ladder on which Jacob in a dream saw angels descending and ascending (Gen 28:12). Without doubt, this descent and ascent can signify only that we descend by exaltation and ascend by humility.” (RB 7:5-6)

By the way, Benedict’s first step of humility calls for the monk to “recall that he is always seen by God in heaven, that his actions everywhere are in God’s sight and are reported by angels at every hour.” (RB 7:12). This brings us back to my first reflection above: At all times, God is “in this place” and watching over us.

God bless you!