A Heart That Senses (05/31/2025)

Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Visitation recounting Mary’s visiting her cousin Elizabeth. I am always struck by both Elizabeth’s recognition of Mary’s motherhood of Christ and Elizabeth’s unborn son’s recognition of Christ. They didn’t see this – they had hearts that sensed it, hearts that were moved by the presence of the LORD. I can’t tell you how many times I have prayed to the LORD for such a heart – one that would find the LORD present and at work in my moments.

One of my favorite readings from the Hebrew Scriptures is Genesis 28 – Jacob’s dream of the ladder connecting heaven and earth of the LORD’s promise to him. When Jacob awoke, his first words were, “Truly, the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” Oh, how I can empathize with Jacob. So many times in my life, I have glimpsed the LORD present and at work in my life only in the rearview mirror, only after the fact, looking back, pondering. How I want to have a heart that senses always, that sees what is in the moment.

This morning my prayer after reading the readings for the day was that the LORD would strengthen my faith, that the Spirit would make my faith overpower my doubts, that I would see the LORD present and at work in my moments, in my world, in my life, even in me. And I know the word “believe” that kept echoing in my head and heart were from Him. Believing is the secret to sensing and seeing what others miss.

As I sat and pondered this, I thought of the stop signs I have missed in my life. It’s not that they aren’t visible – they are very visible. But I didn’t “see” them because I didn’t believe they were there. We humans have the ability to dismiss that which we aren’t anticipating. In my old age, I’ve learned to look more closely because the powers that be put those signs in unlikely places.

I also thought of numerous times the LORD has touched me through others, through their presence, how they came to me in my need. How I want to always recognize the LORD at work in my moments, in my presence, in those around me.

This day as we celebrate our Blessed Mother’s visit to Elizabeth, her cousin, and Elizabeth’s and her unborn son’s recognition of the LORD, Jesus Christ, Son of God, present though invisible, let us commit to believing the LORD is present with us, to us, and in us. And with that belief, let us celebrate the LORD’s loving presence and power at work. Let us, believing see that which require loving and faith filled hearts because He isn’t always visible, but He is there.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.