from John of the Cross - real presence

Yesterday's meditation I read spoke of how we miss God and God's real presence, because we think we have God figured out in our paltry, idolatrous notions. How we need to bow and realize that there is no way we have God down at all. That we must be still and let God make himself known to us.

This doesn't deny the importance of the word of God in this revelation from God, but God still must reveal himself to us. This is compared to hearing about someone, with maybe even words they've said, and then getting to meet them and get to know them in person and personally. God reveals himself to us by the Spirit, giving to us not only the revelation of himself, but his "real presence".

I found it helpful for me to set aside everything of my own understanding, and to be open to God's revelation of himself. What surely helped me prior to the reading was my continual calling on God before getting up. I pray to God everyday, and hopefully throughout the day, though I can be slack at times. But to really call on the Lord and seek his face like I did out of a sense of need yesterday morning is all too rare for me.

God began to answer very soon, and in no small part through the reading of the meditation from John of the Cross. I wish I could just copy it here, but if you can get your hands on this book, it's good to start from day one in a 40-day journey. I've found that I have to think carefully at what John of the Cross is getting at sometimes, because I can be turned off by Christian spirituality teachings which seem to be hard on creation. At the same time I can also misunderstand such, and even when I don't, fail to see the good that is there. In the case of the meditations so far, I'm reminded of the difference between the good world God created, still good even though subject to the fall, and the world's system set against God manifested in the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

Each meditation from the book is best pondered and allowed time to sink into our minds and hearts. I do think with the help of John of the Cross yesterday, I did know that the Lord was, or had been there (in a manifest way- though I certainly believe God is always with us in Jesus), especially during our time of gathering and worship yesterday.

What thoughts might you like to share from these few thoughts from John of the Cross on "real presence"?