Right Before Our Eyes

Homily for Thursday of the Fourth Week in Lent

I’m sure that we have all had the experience of looking for a lost article only to find it right in front of us. As the old saying goes: “If it had been a snake, it would have bitten us.”

I was reminded of this as I pondered the readings for today’s liturgy. In the first reading from the Book of Exodus, God is speaking to Moses of the foolishness that is taking place at the base of the mountain while God and Moses speak together. The Israelites had fashioned a golden calf, a graven image to represent a god. God has been angered by their conduct and threatens to exterminate them. However, Moses is able to convince God otherwise.

The absurdity of this incident is really perplexing. God had given them everything they could possibly need or desire for their good. They can’t see what is right in front of them. So, they designed and built their own idol to worship rather than worship God. They did not have the faith or fortitude to realize that what they sought was already in their possession.

Similarly, Jesus exposes the blindness of those who have listened to the testimony of John the Baptist and who have searched the Scriptures for answers, but who nevertheless do not recognize Jesus as the one sent by God. He is right there in front of them, but they do not want to come to him to have life.

From the very beginning, it had always been God’s intention to give us his Son. Despite the misguided searches and efforts of all the people who have come before us, God has always been with us and for us. God’s presence is steadfast and secure if only we take the time to see it. We have the privilege of seeing God among us every day in the Eucharist, the very body and blood of Jesus, the Son of God. We need not look any further.