What will Remind You?

What will Remind You?
     Awhile back, I had a sudden craving for a Big Mac and headed over to McDonalds for one of these delicious, nutritious treats! As I stood in line a man tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to take the money he held in his hand and give it to the cashier. Confused, I thought he was asking me to buy him something, but I was dead wrong. The man quickly explained that he had already eaten his food and was leaving when he saw me. He continued, “When I paid, the cashier gave me too much money in change, but I kept it. When I saw you knew I needed to return it, I am sorry.”

     I love the phrase, God works in mysterious ways because when we think about it, this means we are actively looking for the unexpected and wonderful manifestation of God. The not so mysterious ways of God are around us all the time and we live them every day. Last Sunday we sang “All Creatures of our God and King”, a praise hymn extolling God’s gifts to us and recognizing them as such. This hymn is based on “The Canticle of the Sun,” composed by St. Francis just before his death in 1225;
Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, the honor, and all blessings.
To You alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no man is worthy to mention Your name.

Praised be You, my Lord, with all your creatures;
especially Brother Sun, who is the day, and through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor,
and bears a likeness to You, Most High One.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars;
in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Wind,
and through the air, cloudy and serene,
and every kind of weather through which You give sustenance to Your creatures.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Water,
which is very useful and humble and precious and chaste.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night;
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth,
who sustains us and governs us and who produces
varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Praised be You, my Lord,
through those who give pardon for Your love,
and bear infirmity and tribulation.

Blessed are those who endure in peace
for by You, Most High, they shall be crowned.

Praised be You, my Lord,
through our Sister Bodily Death,
from whom no living man can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin.

Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will,
for the second death shall do them no harm.

Praise and bless my Lord,
and give Him thanks,
and serve Him with great humility.
Amen.
     Francis prayed to open the eyes of our minds, hearts and spirits to see the wonderous works of God all around us all the time. God sprinkled creation with beauty and wonder to show his love for us and so that we, being ever reminded of this, would give God our love and devotion. To live in a state of godly recognition is to strive to live godly lives. Still, even with all this constantly around us, we forget to look, or looking we forget to see. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the day we who are to live as a reflection of God’s love—even as nature is—are underwhelmed by God as we are overwhelmed by the self.

     J.C. Ryle,  an evangelical Anglican Priest and the first Bishop of Liverpool, (1816-1900) spent much of his time preaching and writing about “practical tools” through which we all could draw closer to God. Accordingly, he offered this list of behaviors and habits through which the individual can practice spiritual-centeredness:

Holiness is the habit of being of one mind with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture. It is the habit of agreeing in God’s judgment – hating what God hates – loving what God loves – and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word…

A holy person will endeavor to shun every known sin, and to keep every known commandment. They will have a decided bent of mind toward God, a hearty desire to do His will. A holy person will follow after meekness, longsuffering, gentleness, patience. A holy person will follow after temperance and self-denial. A holy person will follow after charity and brotherly kindness. A holy person will follow after a spirit of mercy and benevolence towards others. A holy person will follow after purity of heart. A holy person will follow after meekness, longsuffering, gentleness, patience, kind tempers, government of the tongue. The fear of God, a holy person will follow after faithfulness in all the duties and relations in life. Last, but not least, a holy person will follow after spiritual mindedness. They will endeavor to set their affections entirely on things above, and to hold things on earth with a very loose hand. Holiness, pg. 34

     This simple list (much more explained in his book) is a direct reflection of what Jesus taught during His three years of ministry. Bishop +Ryle was hoping that each Christian would exercise a presence of mind that would save them falling into habits or neglects which would lead to a sense of distancing from Christ. The “holy person” in short, is a person amidst the hustle and bustle of the day who is looking for the ways of God in all things, general and mysterious.

     Why did that man ask me to return the money? I was simply a Priest ordering a burger, but that man had the presence of mind to discern the presence of Christ--not in me, but in his self—and he had the humility to act, to practice Practical Holiness. I was simply a reminder of who he knew he was and to whom he belonged.

     Be reminded, and then act! It is NEVER too late to receive forgiveness and the blessing of a loving God. What will remind you?
     
Constantly looking for God,
Fr. Bill+