God is with you

We have heard that God is with you.

“They were drawn like moths to a flame.”  This is what the prophet Zechariah might say if he were to speak this prophecy today. Speaking about the future restoration of Israel, Zechariah said that foreigners from everywhere would be drawn to the people or, more precisely, to God, who was present in the midst of them.

Why would the people be so attracted to the Israelites?   Because they would want what the Israelites had.   The blessing of God’s favor.   Maybe they would hear about the Israelites’ amazing exodus from Egypt.   Or perhaps they would hear stories about Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land and her defense against all the enemies that surrounded her.   Maybe it would be the way Israel worshiped God alone rather than going after multiple gods—and was abundantly blessed for it.   Clearly, Israel would stand out.   Clearly, everyone else would see that God was with them!

What Zechariah promised the Israelites can happen in you.   In fact, it is probably happening already, even if you can’t see it.   Many of the choices you make are affected in some way or another by your faith.   That means the light of Christ’s presence is already within you, so of course people will notice.  So keep shining!   It doesn’t take a lot of extra effort.   As St. Francis de Sales once said, “Be who you are and be that well.”   In other words, do what God has called you to do in your life, and do it wholeheartedly.   Trust in the goodness of God and in his grace at work in you.   Relax and lean into his presence.   Don’t try too hard, just keep reminding yourself that Christ is in you, and he will shine out.   And that will make you attractive to the people around you.   Your witness of confidence and peace will spark people’s curiosity and draw them to God’s life in you, just as Zechariah promised would happen to the people of Israel.

Be who you are in Christ.   By doing that, you are already proclaiming the good news.   You are already shining the light of Christ because people will be able to see that he is real, and he is with you.

word among us