The verses that we choose say a lot about our relationship with God.
Do you have a favorite Bible verse? Many people do, they appear on signs, t-shirts, bookmarks, they are everywhere. My favorite is “He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” and it hangs in my living room. The thought of God being my fortress is comforting. It means I am protected.
The purpose of a fortress was to protect the people inside and defend against the forces on the outside. Who defends them? Well, God has legions of angels that protect and defend. Have you ever visited a fortress?
During my study abroad, I had the fortunate experience of visiting Mont St. Michel in northern France. I knocked on a private door that no tourist was supposed to touch, carrying a letter that the sister who opened the door looked very suspicious of. My host father had a contact there, and with a letter he wrote, my travel partner and I had a private tour of the abbey that ended with mass in the church.
The church is on top of a rock, on an island. There are many legends about why. One says that St. Michael the Archangel appeared to a bishop in the 700’s and told him to build it. Another says that this is where the battle between St. Michael and Satan took place (from the book of revelations). However it appeared, it’s a beautiful piece of architecture and also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
On a more recent trip, in 2012, I visited a mountain top in Garabendal, Spain where St. Michael appeared to four children in the 1960’s. The city is not easy to find and you have to walk up some very steep stairs to arrive at the exact spot. Not everyone in our group went up, but we had traveled most of the day to get there, I was making it for sure. There is no church on this mountain. There is not even a chapel, there are statues and an explanation. What struck me about it was the isolation, and that the recipients of the appearances were children.
My favorite verse tells you that I know where to go to find refuge and in that refuge I am protected. God’s defenders meet us where we are, in real, tangible places. What is your favorite verse? Look beyond the words and see if you can see the message that God is sending you.
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