Uncontainable

A pastor was trying to explain to a Sunday school class that God is all around us. “God is everywhere!,” said the pastor. “Everywhere?” asked one little boy. “Everywhere!” answered the pastor.

The boy went home and told his mother, “God is everywhere! The pastor said so.” “Yes, I know,” replied the mother. The little boy continued, ”You mean he is even in the cupboard?” “Yes,” said the mother. “In the refrigerator, even when we close the door and the light goes out?” “Yes,” said the mother. “Even in the sugar bowl?” the boy asked as he took the lid off. “Yes,” said the mother, “even in the sugar bowl.” The boy slammed the lid down and said, “Now I’ve got him.”

The story is funny. And, it captures the truth that God is bigger than even we can ever imagine.

In the book of 1 Kings (chapter 8) at the dedication of the first temple, the author tells us that the glory of the Lord filled the temple so that the priests could not stand to minister… At that time, Solomon prayed, “Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you – much less this house that I have built!”

There is a recognition very early on in our faith that God is at work beyond the walls of the sanctuary – beyond our denominations – beyond our understanding, beyond our grasp. You cannot contain the God we worship. God is bigger than we can ever begin to imagine.

Sometimes I want to have all the answers. I want to know why people see the world differently than I do. I want to know why there is poverty and violence. I want to know why people I love suffer. I want to know how and when God will answer my prayers.

Being human, we have to ask the questions. We have to seek to understand. But, being human also means that there may be things that we will never understand. And so here and now, with great humility, we have to trust. We have to trust that God is as good as Jesus told us that he is – merciful, forgiving, loving – with grace extending far beyond our wildest imaginations.

Let us pray: Almighty God, you are holy and majestic. We thank you for your unstoppable, uncontainable love – that reaches out and embraces even us. With all of our strength, in all of our weakness, with all of our faith, and in all of our doubt, help us to respond to you. Amen.