JoAnn’s Joynt 2: He Is With Us Even Now

Attribute of God: Omnipresence

JoAnn’s Words:

“‘Am I God only when near,’ asks The LORD, ‘and not when far away? Can anyone hide in a place so secret that I won’t see him?’ asks The LORD. The LORD says, ‘Do I not fill heaven and earth?’”
Jeremiah 23:23-24 ❤️🛐🕊️

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your Presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your Hand will lead me, and Your Right Hand will lay hold of me.”
Psalm 139:7-10 ❤️🛐🕊️

Patty’s Words:

This morning, I arrived at church unusually late. Not by much, but late enough that the priest was already on the altar and the congregation had begun the Confiteor. I usually sit about seven rows from the front. But today, for the first time in my life, I slipped quietly into the second-to-last row.

That’s not normal for me. My family were front-row Catholics. We didn’t hide in the back—we entered in fully. But today was different.

And so was the view.

Even though I hadn’t reviewed the prompt for this reflection ahead of time, I knew I was writing for Joann’s Joynt today. And I can’t help but see the timing of this as anything but divine.

From the back row, I saw things differently. The long, narrow aisle gave me a new perspective. When the priest raised the Host and declared, “Behold, the Lamb of God,” I couldn’t make out its shape from that distance—but I saw something better: a white, glowing radiance. Not just bread, but Presence.

When he prayed for the Church spread across the world, I looked around and noticed the 200 or so people scattered through a space built for a thousand. And in that moment, I saw us—a tiny glimpse of the global Church. People gathered, far-flung and few, yet all present before the Lord. He was there. He is there. Everywhere.

And then, we rose to go forward. As the line moved slowly up the aisle, I was the last to receive. But not the least. I was met by the One who sees even the person in the last pew. Jesus met me there—not based on my position in the church, but on the posture of my heart. Not because I was worthy, but because He is merciful.

He saw my faith, not my faults. He served me with His Presence, to change me again, so I could serve Him all the more.

There is no place He is not. Front row or back. Mountain height or shadowed valley. He fills heaven and earth.

And He filled that back pew.

Closing Thought / Prayer:

God, You were with Jesus in the garden, and You’re with us now.
Teach us to rest in Your presence—even when the journey is heavy. Amen.