Where is God?

Yesterday, at the Cathedral’s Weekly Healing Eucharist, we celebrated the Feast Day of St. Philip and St. James, reading our Gospel from John 14:6-14, where Philip says to Jesus: “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Philip’s words take Jesus aback, as he responds: “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” This reading is a reminder and a comfort to me that God has never abandoned God’s creation. God has always sought to be in the midst of creation, appearing as various forms in Hebrew Scripture, coming down to earth as Jesus Christ, and now as the Holy Spirit. God constantly seeks to be near us, to know us, and to love us.

It is in times such as these, when I look around and feel that all I can see is devastation and destruction. The recent disasters and chaos in both Nepal and Baltimore are quite unsettling, and can often lead us to question where is God? But, I believe this is exactly the question we should be asking… where is God?

For all of the tragedies that have been besetting our world there have also been so many joys. Last Saturday, here at the Cathedral, over 100 people gathered to celebrate this community, as we sought to learn how to further enliven and enrich both our spiritual lives and church home with Mary Parmer’s Invite Welcome Connect program. On Sunday, Bishop Hahn confirmed over 40 people, as another 200 gathered to support and uplift them in their vows. In the midst of the sorrow and fear there is still hope and joy. As we show up and engage in our church community and faith life we can begin to better support and uphold our brothers, sisters, and ourselves as we face the difficult challenges this world brings.

So where is God? God is here in the life of Christ Church Cathedral. God is in Baltimore with religious leaders who come to stand for peace, in solidarity with their hurting neighbors. God is in Nepal with the rescue teams, relief organizations, and individuals who are pulling together to dig out of the destruction. And, God is in us, in our empathy and our prayers for a hurting world.