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“For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather of power and love and self-control.” 2 Tim 1:7.

The sheer immensity of the universe — both cosmic and sub-atomic — is awesome. The size of our own galaxy, the Milky Way, is mind-boggling enough. Its overall diameter is 100,000 to 200,000 light years. Though the exact number of other galaxies is unknown, estimates based on deep-field observations by the Hubble Space Telescope now suggest over 2 trillion. By any logical analysis it would be reasonable to conclude that God likes things big.

Not only in outer space, but in “inner space” as well. The components of the subatomic universe, though infinitesimally small, when scaled in such a way as to render their relative size comprehensible, reveal a similar divine penchant for expansiveness. A mind-bending thought: If an atom were scaled to the size of the solar system, a proton inside it would still be only the size of a football field. Similarly, if a human were the size of a quark, the earth would be smaller than a proton to you and me.

Had enough? God hasn’t. From what we know, the universe is expanding rapidly. How fast? It’s complicated. Though debated — the so-called “Hubble tension” could point to a new physics beyond current cosmological models — it is believed that very distant galaxies may recede faster than light, if that gives any kind of perspective. 

What size is God then? We may have a theological answer: God is everywhere, omnipresent. Yet God has made choices about how to localize. The same God who created this enormity of inner and outer space, nonetheless, sent us the Word incarnate, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity in full (tiny) human form. As we contemplate the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, we might do well to consider how immeasurably vast God is in terms of presence. Yet small enough to live in a loving human heart. Where God is, love is (for God IS love). 

Awed by the trillions of galaxies, would it surprise us to consider that God would create billions, maybe trillions of angels, messengers to carry blessings in and around our lives? We are surrounded by divine activity, directly and mediated. And yet, what does Jesus have to tell us about how we may possibly respond to be able to receive these blessings? Where can we put all the sanctifying grace? He says we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world and he talks about seeds and tiny yeasts that produce enormous harvests if we only let them grow.

My point in this little exercise in the mysterious reality of physics — all of which above is grounded in the annals of contemporary science — is first of all to give us some sense of confidence that we are caught up in a reality much larger than ourselves. The outward and inward reaches of Divine Providence are incredibly larger than we can imagine. God knows how to run things and has our backs when we permit ourselves to fall into the loving arms of God’s merciful grace. 

As we embark on our diocese-wide pilgrimage of parish renewal together — “Remade for Mission” — it might be comforting to fold our fears, worries and uncertainties into the Sacred Heart of the One who knows our humanity, even our personal identities, strengths and weaknesses, much better than we do. We may feel at times like scattered pieces of a jigsaw puzzle on a living room carpet. We do not know where to begin or how we fit in. The Holy Spirit who lives in the heart of God — the love between the Father and the Son is one description I have heard — is the master of relationships!

How we are to figure out what to do with our financial, logistical and personnel wellness challenges — the ecological conversion we may need to undergo — is something we would best begin by placing them on the altar as we celebrate the Eucharist together. We can take it to personal prayer, too. When we sit or kneel before the Blessed Sacrament, we might consider that what looks like a round white screen is a membrane linking eternity with our present moment, a vector of powerful graces being poured out into our lives. Some mystics have described the power of Eucharistic encounters as like that of a sword. You or I may not experience this often — if ever — but it may surprise us to feel the sudden burst of patience, courage or inspiration in the midst of a tough meeting or planning session. Happens to me all the time, and I know it is not from my virtue. In fact, I do not pray for miracles; I depend on them!

Any family or community that is rooted in common prayer has the great advantage of knowing that there is a basis for trust when folks come together to engage in planning or brainstorming. The fear of “hidden agendas” or “my way or the highway” attitudes can at least be reduced, knowing that all who are participating are turning to the same Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom. This is also about “thinking big” like God, getting outside of our personal comfort zones, our self-protective armor of pride, our “lines in the sand” that resist change and conversion.

No thought is too big or two small for God. Behold the sky on a clear night! Each and every one of us is willed into existence by the love of God, not just at conception, but every moment of our life. What we pray and do together, trusting in God, is an exercise of our membership in the one Body of Christ, big enough to include every one of us — and to make the Father proud, while building up his Son’s Church.

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