God or us?

[joeantony]

Hi All,
My friend recently asked me a question. She is slowly showing interests in matters related to faith and I am glad that she is responding to the grace. Her question was

Is it us who is searching for God or is it God who is searching for us?

I told it is God who is searching for us and all our efforts to search God will be a response to His call or Grace.

I am not confident that I gave a right response. I need your help in helping me to answer this question. And would have references from Bible to back up your answers if possible?

Thanks a lot in advance.
Joe

 

[fred_conty]

I have heard this too both ways.

Here is one:“Our hearts are restless until they rest in you O Lord.” I beleive
that is from a psalm. There are also more psalms along those lines.

And of course we have the three Magi from the east at Christmas in search of a king.

Then on the other side, Jesus was known as the friend of sinners because he ate with publicans and sinners. He said, he came to save those who need saving not those who do not need it.

The parable of the good shepherd shows that God searches for the lost sheep.

Just a few thoughts.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

God calls us, but until we open our hearts to him, we never hear him.

When people think about God, the first reaction is to look to their true self, the true person which the ego keeps buried behind false masks. God, however, knows our true self, but the person is unable to accept that realization, for it reveals a nakedness which the person is too ashamed to accept. So, their reaction is to shut down thoughts of a personal God, and either accept atheism or compromise with being an agnostic.

When person finally realizes that they must go beyond the ego and accept God and be who they are in his presence, with all of their sins, they feel a terrifying anguish which is almost overbearing. Finally, they cry out for salvation, and Jesus is revealed to them, within their heart and mind. The experience of having their sins wiped away by the Savior’s love and compassion is so profound, it fills them with a joy and relief that not relief from suffering could compare with.

This is the gift of faith, which logic and reason can not create. It comes only from God through Jesus Christ and is the greatest gift a person can ever receive.

It’s open to all, but it’s up to use to be open to God.

Jim

 

[joeantony]

God calls us, but until we open our hearts to him, we never hear him.

When people think about God, the first reaction is to look to their true self, the true person which the ego keeps buried behind false masks. God, however, knows our true self, but the person is unable to accept that realization, for it reveals a nakedness which the person is too ashamed to accept. So, their reaction is to shut down thoughts of a personal God, and either accept atheism or compromise with being an agnostic.

When person finally realizes that they must go beyond the ego and accept God and be who they are in his presence, with all of their sins, they feel a terrifying anguish which is almost overbearing. Finally, they cry out for salvation, and Jesus is revealed to them, within their heart and mind. The experience of having their sins wiped away by the Savior’s love and compassion is so profound, it fills them with a joy and relief that not relief from suffering could compare with.

This is the gift of faith, which logic and reason can not create. It comes only from God through Jesus Christ and is the greatest gift a person can ever receive.

It’s open to all, but it’s up to use to be open to God.

Jim

Hi Jim,

Thank you so much. I think I have the answer there.

God Bless you!

Joe

 

[Aelred_Minor]

I have heard this too both ways.

Here is one:“Our hearts are restless until they rest in you O Lord.” I beleive
that is from a psalm. There are also more psalms along those lines.

And of course we have the three Magi from the east at Christmas in search of a king.

Then on the other side, Jesus was known as the friend of sinners because he ate with publicans and sinners. He said, he came to save those who need saving not those who do not need it.

The parable of the good shepherd shows that God searches for the lost sheep.

Just a few thoughts.

“Our hearts are restless until they rest in you” is from the Confessions of St Augustine.

The fuller quote is “You move us to delight in praising you; for you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they rest in you.” In this context we see that it is both: we long for God, but we do so because God has made us for himself and moves us to seek him.

 

[bzkoss236]

I would say us searching for God because God knows where we are and leaves evidence of Himself for us to find Him.

 

[BobCatholic]

What about the dark night (of the soul, of the senses)? It is like God withdraws from us and basically leaves us without anything.

 

[fred_conty]

“Our hearts are restless until they rest in you” is from the Confessions of St Augustine.

The fuller quote is “You move us to delight in praising you; for you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they rest in you.” In this context we see that it is both: we long for God, but we do so because God has made us for himself and moves us to seek him.

Thank you

 

[JimR-OCDS]

What about the dark night (of the soul, of the senses)? It is like God withdraws from us and basically leaves us without anything.

The Dark Night of the Soul is what a soul goes through after having received infused contemplation.

The Dark Night of the Sense is the soul having to detach from the appetites which do not lead them toward union.

Dryness comes to all souls, but this is neither the Dark Night of Sense or the Dark Night of the Soul.

Also, not all souls, even those who are brought into infused contemplation, will go through the Dark Night of the Soul. It’s up to God who will have to suffer through it.

Jim

 

[joeantony]

Thank you all for your thoughts on this. I guess I will have to read St Augustine now !
Joe