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Unpack 1st reading: God is infinitely everything that is good, powerful, holy. We are nothing compared to him and yet… each of us and every thing on the earth, from the smallest grain of sand to the highest mountain, all exist because God wants it to.
He is not an absentee Lord, he is present and passionate about all he has made. In fact, we are here in this very moment because God is thinking of us. If he would ever stop thinking of us or forget us for one second, we would disappear. How incredible that our existence is a reminder that God holds us in his mind even while we sleep or do other things where we cease thinking of him.
This awareness of us is deeply personal and unique, he thinks of each person individually, as if they were the only person he has made. And he loves what he has made and he practices patience, even as he sees us choose sin and other things that push us away from him. He sees but he waits, in the hope that we will come to our senses and choose freely to love him and all he has made.
This beautiful and shocking reading from wisdom is not some poem or symbolic writing; it is literally true as it relates to God’s greatness, power, patience, and individual love for everything and everyone he has made.
The first question such a scripture asks of us is this: “Do we accept and believe it?” Do we know in our hearts that God knows us, loves us, and sees us?
The image that came to my mind when I was reflecting on this passage was something that I remember from my own experience growing up. This image of being seen as a child and the peace it brought me. I think all of you who are parents will know what I mean.
Children have this desire to be seen, to have the undivided attention of the people they love and admire, especially their parents, grandparents, teachers, and others who care about them. Perhaps it is on the playground, as they go higher on the swing or as they show their new skill riding a bike. How many times in our youth, did we ask mom or dad, to watch us do something, to look at us? And how many times they indulged us, even though what we were doing wasn’t nearly as great or exciting as we thought it was! I remember how comforting it was play outside as a child and to occasionally look back towards our house and see mom or dad, simply watching and looking back. Not as a judge or enforcer, but as someone who loved and cared. Their gaze was a sort of affirmation of belonging, of being held in their heart and protected.
On the other hand, when children feel ignored, neglected, or forgotten, what do they do? They act up, they act out, —— not to be a jerk or cause trouble. They do so in the hopes that someone will notice and respond and show them that they are seen and cared for. Being noticed means you matter! It seems odd when you are responding in the moment as the adult. But even adults do the same thing. As we feel unimportant, unvalued or invisible, we do things that hurt us and others in the hopes of being seen and noticed.
With that in mind, we can ask ourselves, if we truly believe that our God watches over us and looks on us with love, at all times and in all places? What might change in my life, if I believed, beyond a shadow of a doubt that God looked at me with love, every second of my life? If I believed that he sees me and knows me and loves me without limit or interruption? How might I treat others differently if I accepted that God looks at them exactly the same way?! In truth, I think most of us either forget that God is always present to us or we simply don’t believe that he could care that much and we often end up making choices that are cries for help, as if God was far away and disinterested.
One other dimension of God’s loving gaze that we might take a moment to ponder. When people know they are being watched over, they tend to act differently than when they think no one is watching. The knowledge that we are seen also keeps us honest, accountable, and on our best behavior. Ask any parent, teacher, or employer what happens when the people they guide know or at least think that they are gone for any length of time? Chaos, anarchy, and mayhem!!
When we realize God looks on us with love always and that he sees all we think, do, and say, might we consider our choices a little more carefully? Would we make different choices altogether? Would we tell different jokes, say the same things about others, entertain the same gossip or judgements, or drive the same, knowing that our Heavenly Father is present for all of it? This observation is not meant to be a fearful thing but to point out a truth that already exists. We can hide from others and from ourselves but God sees it all. In some way, we actually want that, to know that he cares that much. But if there are some areas of life that we would want him to look away, that is a point for prayer and conversion.
We see all of this playing out in gospel with the story of Zaccheus. Zaccheus has heard of Jesus and thinks what he needs to do is see Jesus. In truth, that is not what changes his life. He is transformed when Jesus comes to him, up in the tree, and sees him. The Lord looks at him and invites himself into Zaccheus’ home, which is a symbol also for his heart. Knowing that Jesus sees him, loves him, knows him, even with all his sins and mistakes, this sets Zaccheus free to be transformed and restored. On his own, he vows to make restitution and to live for others instead of himself. And that is the last we hear of Zaccheus in the Scriptures, which means he went on and did it. If he had not, we would have been told about it as a warning.
So there you have it; the power of God’s loving gaze. It is why we exist, it patiently loves us in all things and at all times. Once we lock eyes with God and accept his love, we will be transformed and set free, a freedom which not only benefits us but so many others as well. So, do not wait, do not turn your eyes away from the God who loves you. As we continue with the Mass, look deeply at the tabernacle, at the cross, at the host that is lifted up and know that God has already been watching you with mercy and love!
