It sounds absurd, I know!
How can we, mere humans, begin to contain the Creator of the Universe?
There are more examples of this than you might care to admit. In today's Gospel, (Mark 6:1-6) Jesus was limited when he began to teach in the synagogue. This was the same person who, just when he returned to Nazareth, had been welcomed and greeted and received by family, friends and neighbors. Yet when he spoke the Truth through the Scriptures, their minds and hearts limited what they were willing to receive. They couldn't get past what they thought they knew, and thus, no mighty deeds were done by Jesus in Nazareth. How sad is that?!
What about in our own lives? I know I've almost missed an answer to prayers just because it didn't come packaged in the 'right' way. Take a moment to consider whether you are limiting God. Is it through a request that must look a certain way? Or maybe you're so busy staring at the closed door, you missed the wide open window next to it. I'm not saying that you shouldn't be specific in prayer and ask God, repeatedly, for what you want, but be open to the creative way it may be answered.
If you look closely at the above image, there's a small gap in the chain link. I watched a baby bird hop along the fence line, trying to get to the other side. It kept trying to cross and couldn't, until it finally found the gap and got through. Perhaps it was too young to fly - the irony! - but it was so focused on crossing on the ground, it couldn't see another way. It couldn't even see that the fence stopped a few feet away!!! (see image below) So even if that gap had not existed, there was another path, another answer to the problem. How often do we only see the obstacles and refuse to look around or try another option or even consider a different way?
I recently had the joy (heavy sarcasm) of being without internet for an extended period of time. Tech support didn't have an answer, and switching out the modem didn't help. The soonest a technician could come on site was over a week away! I admit, this wasn't a life or death situation, but you don't realize how heavily integrated technology is in ones life until it does not work! Small tasks, like sending out a meeting notification or placing an online order were limited to my phone. I couldn't include an agenda, or attach files from my computer. Again, not the end of the world, but very inconvenient and frustrating. I was trying to put things in perspective but it was my very own chain link fence, creating a barrier in my life. I almost forgot to pray about the situation. Luckily, my sister was on it, and she interceded on my behalf, asking God (and maybe St. Jude) to send a technician to my house ASAP. When she told me this, I chuckled. I knew the company wasn't going to randomly send someone to fix things, and I was 99% sure they wouldn't bump my appointment up a day or two, so I brushed off the thought and continued with my day. A day or two later someone suggested I try connecting to a different computer. I didn't really think it would work (because why would it?) but decided to give it a try.
IT WORKED!
I had internet again. Everything functioned as it had before. Here I was, focused on finding the path through the fence i.e. the technician coming a week later, I almost missed the fact that the fence was not endless and there was another way. An answer to prayer, appearing different than how I expected.
The last line of today's Gospel, "Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith." I do not want that to be true of me. I want to pray persistently and with GREAT faith. This also means not limiting God in how my prayers are answered and being open to a new direction or opportunity.
God is LIMITLESS!!! Glory in that knowledge and revel in the countless ways God provides.
There at the start
Before the beginning of time
With no point of reference
You spoke to the dark
And fleshed out the wonder of light
And as You speak
A hundred billion galaxies are born
In the vapor of Your breath the planets form
If the stars were made to worship, so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You've made
Every burning star
A signal fire of grace
If creation sings Your praises, so will I
So will I
God of Your promise
You don't speak in vain
No syllable empty or void
For once You have spoken
All nature and science
Follow the sound of Your voice
And as You speak
A hundred billion creatures catch Your breath
Evolving in pursuit of what You said
If it all reveals Your nature, so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You say
Every painted sky
A canvas of Your grace
If creation still obeys You, so will I
So will I
If the stars were made to worship, so will I
If the mountains bow in reverence, so will I
If the oceans roar Your greatness, so will I
For if everything exists to lift You high, so will I
If the wind goes where You send it, so will I
If the rocks cry out in silence, so will I
If the sum of all our praises still falls shy
Then we'll sing again a hundred billion times
God of salvation
You chased down my heart
Through all of my failure and pride
On a hill You created
The Light of the world
Abandoned in darkness to die
And as You speak
A hundred billion failures disappear
Where You lost Your life so I could find it here
If You left the grave behind You, so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You've done
Every part designed in a work of art called love
If You gladly chose surrender, so will I
I can see Your heart
Eight billion different ways
Every precious one
A child You died to save
If You gave Your life to love them, so will I
Like You would again a hundred billion times
But what measure could amount to Your desire
You're the One who never leaves the one behind
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