God’s omnipresence: a good or bad news?
August 30, 2023 - Wednesday, 21st Week in Ordinary Time
Psalm 139:7-8, 9-10, 11-12ab
Psalm 139 is a powerful exposition of God’s omnipresence. A Jewish commentary puts it this way: “God knows all that can be known; He is present in all places; no one can escape His reach”. Is this a good news or bad news? The author of Psalm 8 is surprised that the Almighty God is so concerned with human beings (Ps 8:5-9). On the other hand, the author of the book of Job indicates that God’s omnipresence fills him with uneasiness (see Job 7:17-21).
The belief in God’s omnipresence is found in all three monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It indicates that he is directly involved in the affairs of his creation and that we cannot flee from his presence. Saint Paul captured this truth in one of his memorable saying that in God “we live and move and have our being“ (Acts 17:28).
For centuries, this tenet of our faith was seen as something encouraging and consoling. Saint Augustine spoke about God’s gracious eye beholding ”all things at once”. Saint John Chrysostom spoke about God’s presence with us: ”The Creator of the universe dwells in our hearts. I have travelled the world and met many people, but never have I found another shrine as beloved as my own soul." And St. Pio brought these two dimensions of God’s omnipresence together in this encouraging quote: “God is always with you, guiding and protecting you, even in the darkest moments”. But then, something happened along the history. God’s gracious eye became the eye of a strict disciplinarian ready to punish us for our misbehaviour. Instead of guiding and protecting us, we imagine him as watching us and criticising us for our mistakes.
A priest was driving towards a new place guided by Google Maps. At one moment, he misunderstood the direction and took a wrong turn. After realising it, he started to scold himself. But, the Google Assistant did not shout at him. Instead, it rerouted him showing an alternative way. The awareness of God’s omnipresence is indeed a call to integral living and accountability. But God is well aware that none of us is perfect and that it takes a lifetime for us to grow as followers of Christ. He does not scold us when we make mistakes but patiently “reroutes” us on our journey of life.
In the Book of Chronicles, we read: “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him” (2 Chron 16:9). Let the truth that God is present everywhere and knows everything be the source of comfort for us all. In all circumstance of life, he guides and holds us fast (see Ps 139:10).