Revealing God's Face

Helen Keller said, “I believe that God is in me as the sun is in the color and fragrance of a flower — the Light in my darkness, the Voice in my silence.” It’s remarkable to consider that not only is God in us, but our unique characteristics reflect that presence. In my community, God’s sense of humor is reflected in laughter at the dining room table; God’s concerns about the needs of the poor are reflected in the programs we offer at Keeler Women’s Center; and God’s delight in the beauty and diversity of creation is reflected in the variety of trees, flowers, and vegetables that we plant.

One implication of this idea that God is in each of us and is expressed by each of us is noted by Pope Francis: “…all are needed to reveal the Lord’s face.” When we fail to see God’s presence in certain people, our image of God’s face is incomplete — perhaps God is missing an eyebrow, an upper lip, or a left nostril! More seriously, we might not see God’s industriousness if we exclude immigrants from our workplaces, or God’s love of rhythm if we refuse to listen to rap musicians, or God’s desire for adventure if we judge people who go on exotic vacations.

God often resorts to the element of surprise as we receive insights and direction in unexpected ways — perhaps through illness or loss, the discovery of a hidden talent, or an unforeseen friendship. Thus we, who carry God within us, should continually expect to learn new things about ourselves (and thus about God) and be open to the often surprising ways that others reveal God’s face to us.