Time With the Teacher

Lectio Divina

He wanted to spend more time with his disciples and teach them.

Mark 9:31

Library

Continuing with the Dorothy Day literature and the Spanish lessons as before.

Log

Today: ministry at Catholic Charities in Santa Maria. A lot of activity, but more hands than work to do. The novice brothers provide a glad distraction for the staff and volunteers when they want to ask us about the Church, Scripture, and theology. We brought homemade hummus and falafel to the potluck lunch, and none of it was left over.

This evening: faith sharing, following the Sunday Gospel reading from Mark. Thinking about presence and absence: "They left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but [Jesus] did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples" (Mark 9:30-31). It only seems like God is absent from the world, but the divine presence is with all who seek to learn from God. God is ever-present, always and everywhere, and by the light of faith illuminating us from within, we can "sense" this holy, life-giving presence and come to know who we are and what we are to do. At this moment, I am feeling grateful that the Spirit of God has pulled me aside from the busy-ness of life and has brought me here to California for a year to be taught. More than this, I feel grateful that the Spirit wants to be personally close to me, and awed that the Spirit can be with me, alone, even while attending in the same away, that is alone, to the countless souls the world over who also seek this intimate confidence, this friendship with God. Why would I want anything more, at this hour, than to get near the Teacher?

Weather

Cool and comfortable with light cloudiness.