A Reflection for Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter
Find today’s readings here.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
This verse in today’s psalm invites us to truly experience the Lord’s goodness and to turn to him in times of need. It is one thing for me when someone tries to describe a tantalizing meal or spectacular sunset, and another if I get to experience those graces for myself. It is very much the same with my faith. In times of uncertainty, darkness and turmoil, we need to turn to God for refuge as he will provide us peace and light, especially when we have a personal relationship with him.
My faith—your faith—has to be more than a concept or something we hear or read. To experience it, we need to develop and maintain a loving relationship with God, and at times that is much easier said than done. In times of uncertainty, darkness and turmoil we need to turn to God for refuge as he will provide us peace and light, especially when we have a personal relationship with him.
I converted to Catholicism in college after attending an all-girls’ Catholic high school, which was a formative experience for me and has helped the trajectory of my personal and professional life. People often asked what inspired me to convert. Among other things, I was drawn to the participatory cadence of the Mass—watching the congregation stand, kneel, sing (well, some people!) and receive the Eucharist at every Mass. Every time I attended Mass, I could taste, see, hear and experience the Lord, and that was inviting to me.
When experiencing dark days, I have taken refuge in the Lord. In the last year, our family experienced a tremendous amount of loss with the untimely death of my in-laws. My family questioned God, and we were angry to have been hit with a one-two punch in a matter of weeks. However, part of the grieving process for me was turning to my faith. The relationship and conversations I had with God gave me the courage to move forward. While the grief still lingers, and it will for the foreseeable future, I have found peace, hope and light, which is a testament to the goodness of the Lord.
As each of us moves through the day, how can we taste and see the goodness of the Lord? Perhaps we can offer light to those who are struggling with loss, an illness or social injustices so that they can take refuge in his unending love, mercy and hope.
