“EMMANUEL…GOD WITH US” (Matt 1:23)

⏰Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time 1 (08 Feb 2017)

????Gen 2:4b-9, 15-17; Ps 104:1-2a, 27-28, 29bc-30 (R.v.1a); Mark 7:14-23

“EMMANUEL…GOD WITH US” (Matt 1:23)

I don’t know whether you have ever been in a situation that left you helpless to the extent that you began to feel that God has become elusive, that is, God is nowhere nearby? The people of Israel once felt that way especially while they were in exile. So Gen 2:4-17 tried to correct that wrong impression.

Hence, instead of developing an idea of God who is somewhere dishing out orders and things came into being as we might perceive in the first account (Gen 1), this second account of creation presents an idea of God who is very close to the creatures at creation.

Consider these: God formed man from the dust (probably with his hands) and the “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (Gen 2:7). It is the presence of that breath in man that keeps him alive. So we can say that so long as we are alive, God is always with us with his spirit living in us.

At his death on the cross, Jesus gave up his spirit (John 19:30) so that he might be more present to the world, thus further justifying his name, EMMANUEL. Can you not feel him around you now? Ask him to open your eyes of faith as he opened the eyes of Bartimaeus (cf. Mark 10:46-52).

May Christ remain with you always to guard you and guide you along the way of salvation. Amen.

I wish you a happy day filled with the presence of God. Peace be with you.