# The Hand of the Living God Is Here on Earth Today
*2017-12-22*

> Bill Young reflects on how God’s presence is evident in everyday moments and urges listeners to prepare for Christ’s coming by serving the hungry and needy.

## Seeing God’s Hand in Creation

I began with the simple truth that everything around us—grass, trees, the sun, the sky, animals, and even the smallest leaf—bears the hand of the Living God. While Scripture shows God’s hand in grand events, such as the dove over Jesus at His baptism, we also encounter it in the ordinary details of daily life.

## Personal Signs of God’s Presence

Over the past weeks I have noticed a recurring pattern: leaves, rose petals, or bird formations appearing in the shape of a triangle, the ancient symbol of the Trinity. One evening, while standing in my garage, small leaves began to spin in the air before gently settling on the floor. I could not explain it, but I sensed it was a sign that God was reaching out to me.

## Living Out the Gospel in Small Ways

Preparing for Christmas is more than decorating our homes; it is an invitation to feed the hungry and care for the poor. I shared a recent experience at a parish bake sale where I gave a cookie to a woman who announced she was hungry, and later offered a banana to a man at a traffic light who had the same sign. These simple acts embody Christ’s command to feed the hungry and love our neighbor.

## Advent Reflection: Longing and Hope

The Advent reading for today reminds us of Zechariah and Elizabeth, who longed for a child and doubted God’s promise. Like them, we sometimes struggle to believe that God can work miracles in our lives. Yet the same God who answered their prayer is the one who still moves in our everyday moments, urging us to keep hope alive.

## Charity as a “Crack in the Wall”

I serve on the board of the Arielle Anchor Cancer Foundation, a small charity that helps families facing cancer. Our work is like a crack in a great wall—an opening where love and assistance can flow through. By supporting organizations such as St. Jude and providing practical help to families like Monica’s, we become instruments of God’s hand on earth.

*God’s hand is present in the ordinary; when we respond with love, we become that hand for others.*