God meddles in our lives to awaken us

March 16, 2003 -- Second Sunday of Lent

	Bishop Robert Morneau
	Questions for reflection: 1. Who meddles in your life? For good or ill? 2. In whose life do you meddle? For good or ill? 3.Is God a Meddler in your experience? How so?

Is God meddlesome? Is God a Meddler?

Early on in life many of us were taught not to intrude into the affairs of other people. We were taught not to meddle, not to interfere. Were we taught the right thing?

Lent
• Lent-related articles  • 2003 Lenten Wish List (3/7 issue)  • Lenten rules (2/28 issue)

God does intrude, interfere, meddle in our lives. Just ask Peter, James, and John. They were told by God to listen to this beloved son and to follow in his way. And the words of Jesus? Compassion, forgiveness, love! God intruded in the lives of these disciplines and challenged them to conversion. Peter did not understand the total significance of this event but he did know that it was good for him and the others to be in the presence of the living, loving God.

God meddles in our lives in a variety of ways. One is through our sacramental life. Jesus comes again and again in the Eucharist to speak to our hearts and feed our souls. Jesus came in baptism and conf-irmation to give us new life. Jesus comes in reconciliation to purge our sins and call to repentance. What a Meddler he is.

Abraham knew a meddlesome God. The familiar story of his going up the mountain with his son Isaac should instill fear in our hearts. The thought that God would ask a father to sacrifice his son should shock us. What we learn from this story is Abraham's radical obedience. He would return to the Lord whatever gift was given him. God intruded in Abraham's life big time and was not disappointed.

Out of love, God also interferes whenever possessions, be they personal or material, become idols. God will not stand by and let us easily enter the land of idolatry. We should not be surprised at this since the Father did not spare his only Son for the salvation of the world. Such is the intensity of God's tremendous love.

St. Paul uses a different word to speak of God's meddlesome ways. Paul reminds us that Jesus, who died and rose, now sits at God's right hand and intercedes for us. This interceding is a type of meddling that we should rejoice in. The risen Christ watches over us and is deeply concerned about our every relationship and activity. His graced, meddlesome intercession is one of our anchors for hope.

What are some of Jesus' intercessions? Surely, for peace in our war-weary world. Other intercessions: for justice, for love, for mercy, for joy. Jesus and the Father send us their Spirit that we might continue to build the Kingdom. We are not alone in our ministry but are "accompanied in all that we do." This graced presence should drive out fear.

In our more candid moments almost all of us admit that we don't like interferences, intrusions, yes, meddlesome events. We have our daily calendar worked out and our comfort zone well constructed and would like them to remain in tact. Seldom do we realize how dangerous this is on our spiritual journey. We become complacent. That's when our meddlesome God comes along to shock us.

God is given so many names: Father, Son, Spirit; Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier; Lover, Loved, Love. Not too often is God called Meddler. Yet, perhaps this name also captures an aspect of the Deity.

(Bp. Morneau is the auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay.)