Do We Notice How God is Working in Us?

In yesterday's homily, we explored the narrative that is known as the doubting Thomas incident, that came to pass after Jesus' resurrection. One major conclusion we discovered was that contrary to popular myth, Jesus did not condemn, nor did he mock Thomas for his doubt.

Rather, Jesus embraced Thomas in the midst of his doubt. Thomas is not the first one we encounter in the Bible who looks for a sign in the midst of doubt or uncertainty, or even a need for reassurance from God. In the old Testament book, Judges, we encounter a man named Gideon, who was given several challenges to complete by God. Even after the successful completion of the first two challenges, with God's help, Gideon still needed reassurance that God was still present and working in his life.

Hear these words from Judges 6, 34 through 40, as translated in the common English Bible:

"But then Gideon said to God, 'To see if you really intend to rescue Israel through me, as you have declared, I'm now putting a wolf fleece on a threshing floor. If there's do only on the fleece, but all the ground is dry, then I'll know that you are going to rescue Israel through me as you have declared.'"

And that is exactly what happened. "When he got up early the next morning and squeezed the fleece, he rung out enough due from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. Then Gideon said to God, 'Don't be angry with me, but let me speak just one more time. Please let me make just one more test with the fleece. Now let only the fleece be dry, and let dew be on all the ground.' And God did so that night." Only the fleece was dry, but there was dew all around the ground. A few talking points that we need to bring up, and a quick examination of Gideon like this and this incident involving Gideon. If I had to bet, there is not a one of us who has not at some point challenged God to prove that God is at work on our behalf. Especially in uncertain times like ours, we can't blame someone for wondering how, given all that is going on, God could be at work for good.

In no way should you feel bad about having questions and doubts. The Bible is full of such people. For whatever reason, Gideon is not satisfied with God's first sign and requests a second. This might naturally move us into asking, why wasn't one sign from God enough? We would be advised though, before being too hard on Gideon, to ask if, maybe when, we have moved the goalpost on God. Forget about Gideon for a minute. Just set Gideon aside. Let's talk about our own realities. If we are honest with ourselves, we might just have to fess up to having a sign from God, not be enough to satiate our spiritual appetites. The challenge I believe we must take from this passage is not only one about how many times we ask God to prove the grace and protection of God.

But the challenge of asking ourselves, would we recognize a miracle of God if it happened to us? Along with this would be the understanding that chances are better than average we have missed a sign that God has given us to prove the divine presence in our lives. Maybe instead of focusing on Gideon's testing of God, maybe we should take the time to ask ourselves if we have checked the fleece of our own lives to discover that God is at work in our current situations. Let us be people who constantly see that God is constantly present, because we are constantly on the lookout for God.