Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from you.”

“Those who believe in God, but without passion in their hearts, without anguish of mind, without uncertainty, without doubt, without an element of despair even in their consolation, believe only in the God idea, not in God himself” (Miguel de Unamuno). That might seem a bit dramatic for us Northern believers but the point can still be taken.

At some time in the course of our life of faith, there should be some questioning, some wrestling with what it means or does in our life. Whatever else that odd Biblical story about Jacob wrestling with an angel might mean, it can stand for the need for some emotional, if not intellectual, struggle with what it means to believe in God, in Jesus Christ.

Most often this will be triggered by some shaking event: loss of our job, death of a loved one, a treacherous attack on our character, a persistent depression. Or, it might be occasioned by something less immediate and specific: boredom and/or apparently meaningless routine, continual failure or disappointment in love. We only come to a compelling, personal vision of who God is when we let these situations shake up our belief, make us think, question, argue, even struggle with God.

Not ever doing this leaves our relation to God on the same level as our relation to people with whom we have only a formal, nodding acquaintance. That would be believing “only in the God idea” rather than in the God who cares for us. We're better off complaining to God or questioning God in prayer, asking why, than keeping God at arm's length by not taking God's presence seriously enough.

Psalm 27: “I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness / in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord; be strong; / be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!”

Reply to Fr. Don at: DTalafous@csbsju.edu

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