I see that you are very religious . . . I even discovered an altar . . . “to an unknown god.” (Acts 17: 22-23)
A few days before Christmas, I received a book entitled Knowing the Unknowable God, written by a student in my first class of six-year-olds, which I taught in 1956. The title left me more than a bit amazed, curious and mystified. The student had become the teacher.
My initial written response to him was, “Yes, I have also come to know the Unknowable God! Aren’t we blessed?” I proceeded to tell him that I had come to know God because I had seen this God in him and in so many folks that I had come to know and work with over the years. I had seen God as Creator in the beauty of nature and in the uniqueness and creativity invested in humankind in this vast world of ours. This revelation, more powerful at some times than at others, was always present if and when I took the time to take notice.
Several years ago, I found this quote from the Talmud: “O Thou, who are at home deep in my heart, enable me to join you deep in my heart.” That enabled me to get more deeply in touch with the God within me. That Presence abides in me whether I am cognizant of it or not. Awesome and so very humbling!
In hindsight, I have come to more clearly recognize this God within who has truly journeyed with me from day one! There were times when I felt I was searching for someone or something more. Much like the little fish searching for the ocean in one of Anthony de Mello’s stories, I was seeking, questioning the why and the how and the where of life. The little fish was assured that he was already in the ocean just as I slowly began to recognize that God was within, around, and had encircled me with love beyond measure.
Paul had to alert the Athenians that their God was beyond or more than images of gold. God was more than their altar. He was immersed in them because of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. “In Him, we live and move and are!”
Sr. Rose Anthony Mathews, ASC