Today's Thoughts...

Today’s Thoughts: Often in talks that I have given the subject gets around to images of God. One of the points that I make is that to me the images of God in the Old Testament are the images of our childhood and the images of God in the New Testament are the images of our adulthood. Now, I know that this is a very simplistic statement and that there are many theologians and scripture scholars who would very empathically disagree with my statement. However, in a general way I think what I say about the Old and New Testaments is true.
 
As I see it the God we encounter in the Old Testament is a superhero. He creates out of nothing. He separates seas. He wins battles. He is a bigger than life God. While the God we encounter is the New Testament is Jesus and the many wonderful images that he shares with us – a Father, a Good Shepherd, a forgiver of sins and so on.
 
Now with all of this said if we look at the images of God in our readings today – my theory is completely upside down! The superhero is from the New Testament and the intimate God is from the Old Testament. In our Gospel today, Jesus walks on water and in our reading from the First Book of Kings, God is a tiny whispering sound or in some translation the sound of silence.
 
The point of our readings today is that no matter how we encounter God, whether as a superhero or in an intimate conversation God is always there for us. Jesus is there for Peter and the other disciples even though their faith is not the best and God is there for Elijah even though he is struggling with his faith too.
 
If we are open to any kind of encounter with God we will always have the chance to walk way on the right path and stronger in our faith.
 
Have a blessed Sunday everyone and don’t forget to give God a little time today because you never know when you will meet him along the way!