The opening verse of the First Reading from the Book of Wisdom sent a barrage of reflective questions and attitudes that I have encountered in my lifetime. "There is no God beside you who have the care of all." In the time of natural disasters, and we have had more than our share of them in the last year or two, you hear those who ask, Where is God? and, Why does God allow all this to happen? Then, of course, there are those who wonder about such things as hunger, poverty, illness, etc. and ask, Why does God permit this? Of course at times you will hear the strange comment that God is using some of these catastrophes to punish some element of our population.

    All of this reminds me to reflect often on how I perceive God, and then there comes a reading like the First Reading for today and it is there that I find the God that I first knew in my early childhood expressed so beautifully in our culture, "mi tatita Dios." Often I try to remember how my parents and my grandfather spoke of God to us little ones. Then you grow older and things change. We were taught to be responsible and accountable so the "Daddy God" concept so full of God's warm love for us became little by little the God always present who knows everything and tries to guide and inspire us to do the right thing by informing ourselves fully before making decisions. It is then time to read the full text, "There is no God beside you who have the care of all that you need show you have not unjustly condemned for your might is a source of justice; your mastery over all things makes you lenient to all, for you show your might when the perfection of your power is disbelieved and in those who know you, your rebuke, temerity. But though you are master of might you judge with clemency and with much leniency you govern us; for power whenever you will attends you and you taught your people by these deeds that those who are just would be kind and you gave your children good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins."

     The end result is a conclusion that knowing and learning about God is a lifelong process with many possible detours. In the gospels Jesus tells us, "Pray always," but then it takes time and experience to learn about the many forms of prayer. Ultimately we learn that if we have a truly loving relationship with Almighty God, our whole life becomes a prayer. Knowing God as he reveals himself to us day by day, word by word, event by event becomes not only a continuing challenge but an exciting experience. It is not enough to say that I have found Jesus, but I must continually walk with him in all circumstances on the good days, the bad days, and all those in between.

     I find it comforting and supportive to read the many positive words in the scriptures about God and his presence in our lives. "You O Lord are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you. You O Lord are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and fidelity. Turn toward me and have pity on me, give your strength to your servant."