Taught by God
I have been journaling on my visit to my childhood parish after 57years. This has challenged me to reflect on both those first eleven years of my life and the intervening 57years. In many ways I see the visit as the joining back of a chord of spiritual growth bringing with me 57 years of being ‘taught by God’.
When I read that phrase ‘taught by God’ in this week’s Gospel John 6: 41-51, what immediately sprang to mind was some sort of formal religious education, but my journaling has enabled me to see that most of God’s teaching is done in the classroom of hard knocks, life.
This realization has deepened my understanding of how God's lessons are woven into the fabric of everyday experiences, often in ways that are subtle and unexpected. My visit to my childhood parish didn't just reconnect me with a physical place; it reawakened a spiritual journey that has been ongoing, sometimes without my even realizing it.
Those 57 years have been filled with challenges, joys, pain and moments of quiet reflection, all of which have been God's way of guiding me, shaping my character, and deepening my faith. The process of being ‘taught by God’ has not been confined to formal settings but has permeated every aspect of my life, reminding me that spiritual growth is a lifelong journey, marked by both the highs and the lows that ultimately bring us closer to Him.
One of my activities in my new parish assignment is creating private moments to chat with parishioners who visit or work at the parish office. I always start with the phrase ‘please, tell me your story’. I can sense the surprise at the request, but this muted amazement is usually followed by a quiet enthusiasm to relate their story. It is as if they are astonished that someone would be interested in their story.
We all have wonderful stories and at their heart, they are stories of being taught by God. God teaches in good times and in bad, in success and in failure. As I told the young parents in a baptisimal preparation this week ‘The Holy Spirit is always drawing us to the Father, it is us that create resistance’. Yet, even in our times of resistance to His love, we are being taught by God.
In these moments of sharing, I am reminded that every story is a unique testament to God’s grace at work in our lives. Listening to these stories has become a profound spiritual practice for me, revealing the many ways in which the Holy Spirit gently guides each of us, even when we are unaware. It’s in these personal narratives that I see the unfolding of God's lessons—lessons that often come through our struggles, joys, and the ordinary events of life.
Each person's story is a thread in the larger tapestry of our faith community, and through these encounters, I am continually learning that God’s teaching is not just found in scripture or sacraments, but in the lived experiences of His people. The more I listen, the more I understand that our resistance to God’s love does not diminish His desire to draw us closer. Instead, it becomes another opportunity for Him to teach us, to mold us, and to bring us back to Him, no matter how far we may stray.
Probably you, my reader, is experiencing such a challenge in life at present. I urge you to see this challenge not as a setback, but as a lesson in disguise. Trust that even in the midst of difficulty, God is teaching you something valuable, something that will deepen your faith and strengthen your spirit.
Take a moment to reflect on your own story and recognize the ways in which God has been guiding you, even when the path seemed unclear. Embrace the struggles as opportunities for growth, knowing that the Holy Spirit is always at work, gently leading you toward the Father. Remember, you are not alone in this journey—God is with you, teaching, shaping, and drawing you ever closer to His love.
NOTICE BOARD
Friends, later today 15th August at 11:30am, I am hosting a Zoom and Facebook live session to promote my Life Transitions and other programs. I hope a few of the members of the programs can join me to share their experience with the program. If you can, please join at the link below.
Meeting ID: 899 8071 0549
Passcode: 374081