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Dear St. Augustine's 'ohana,
Last week, we talked about the idea of “fear of God,” looking at the Hebrew word yirah, which is often translated “fear,” but which carries equal connotations of awe, wonder, and reverence. God’s unknowable vastness inspires a sense of raw and fierce wonder.
More reports of God’s wonders and Jesus’ miracles come to us this week, as we deepen our sense of awe in the world around us. Isaiah reminds us of the all-encompassing goodness of the Divine:
“Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
God does not faint or grow weary;
God’s understanding is unsearchable.
God gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.”
The Gospel of Mark shares that Jesus healed the mother-in-law of Simon and after this, “they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons.”
Such healings would be awe-inspiring to see! If we were to see it happen in person, wouldn’t we share the exciting news with everyone we know?
We might not think of it, but we DO experience the wonders of God every day as babies are born, seeds germinate, and soil is enriched by nature’s recycling processes. Reflecting on the past week, what miracles have you encountered? How were you transformed? How have you shared your experience with others?
This Sunday, we’ll talk more about miracles and how the prophet Isaiah and the apostle Paul urge us to share our experiences of awe in the Divine.
With Lent approaching soon, we hasten to embrace the fullest sense of yirah (awe) in all creation as we prepare for the discipline of the Lenten season and the journey toward wisdom it offers.
Blessings,
Vicar Jennifer
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