The goodness of God in our presence is self-communicating. It does not need any theological sophistication in order to decipher and be felt. It is evident when we look at the things around us and contemplate on the meaning of their existence and how we realize the “horizontal relationship” builds in us.
St. Thomas Aquinas remarkably pointed out, “there is in man a natural knowledge of God’s existence” This is more true, for me, where there is in me a natural knowledge of God’s existence in my encounter of God’s presence in all things. Another way of making the same point is to say that God is always in conscious relationship with each one of us as our creator who dwells in our hearts.
As a formandus, I always felt the unquenching goodness of God not just because of the gift of vocation planted on me and sending me people in order for me to continuously respond to my journey but also on those little things that I encounter here in the seminary. My encounter with these things is bringing me to an encounter with the goodness of God and be grateful for that goodness. God is challenging me to be more grateful in a profound way. Truly there is no perfect seminary. I can hear seminarians complaining, and I don’t want to exclude myself, because of some things we do not have or shall I say we just want those things because of our whims and caprices. But the seminary is doing all means in order to provide us with good facilities that will help us on our formation. Indeed, I should know how to appreciate things, facilities, equipments that are being provided for us by taking care of them. Returning things in a proper place, cleaning well during manualia, taking care of plants and appreciate the beauty they bring to our surroundings, disposing garbage in a proper place, turning off electric fans or lights that are on- these are basic things and obligations which, sometimes, being taken for granted.
I believe when these basic things and obligations are taken for granted somehow I do not appreciate my encounter with God through my encounter with these basic realities and obligations that are confronting me. My experience and encounter with God begins in my encounter with the things around me. My love for God begins with my love for the things that God wants me to love. My relationship with God begins with my relationship with all the things around me.
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