"What is this?" That was the immediate response of the good people of Capernaum when they caught just a small glimpse of Jesus' glorious nature as God and man. (See this Sunday's gospel reading) "A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” It seems as though they were not sure what to make of what they were witnessing. Perhaps they were open to accept what they saw and heard, perhaps they were a little afraid of what it all can mean or perhaps after the moment passed some of them didn't give much more thought to it and went back to their everyday tasks. Whatever they thought, we know that His fame spread everywhere throughout the region of Galilee. We know in some places such as Nazareth, they became indignant and chased Him out of town. Elsewhere in scripture it is clear that the Scribes and the Pharisees saw Jesus as a threat that must be eliminated to "protect" Israel.
But I think it all starts with a "what is this?" moment. I think quite often in our lives, God reveals Himself in a moment that inspires awe, so that we say those words to ourselves; "what is this?" It has been said that there are no coincidences; and so the term "God-incident" was coined. Maybe you were thinking of an old friend and then suddenly you "bumped" into them. Maybe you were dwelling on a troublesome issue in your life and the reading at mass or perhaps the Priest's homily addressed that topic in a way that causes you to pause a moment in wonder.
Have you ever had a moment when you said to yourself "what is this?" How did you respond?
+Theo
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