God found me on the Atlantic City Expressway

Lord, hear our prayer … I responded dutifully to the Mass intentions flowing out of Sirius XM Radio Sunday morning during a broadcast from the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in Los Angeles, California. (And please Lord, hear my prayers about these crazy speedsters zipping past my little red Fiat.)

A last-minute plan to trek to the Jersey Shore did not allow me time to watch Mass online as I tossed a suitcase, beach chair and small cooler into my car. Although during the pandemic we Catholics do not have the standard obligation to attend Mass, I like to “go” online. It says “Sunday” to me since staying at home so much hardly allows us to know what day it is. That hour is quite soothing — on the couch, praying with my husband, the pup nestled between us.

I turned on the car radio as I zipped along the Atlantic City Expressway headed to the quaint town of Ocean City, New Jersey, where I would catch up with my three grandkiddies, daughter-in-law and her parents. Although I once subscribed to Sirius XM Radio, I no longer do. Since good reception wasn’t available on any other station, I tuned in anyway knowing Sirius would play some music for a little while on its sample programming – you know, so I’d buy its free trial at the next red light.

Sirius happened to be tuned into a Catholic channel … and a Mass happened to be on air. Hmmm … did God know I had skipped watching Mass to beach it? Of course he did! Odder still, Sirius allowed the Mass to air in its entirety without any “subscribe now” commercials. How? Is Jesus inside my radio?

Although online or radio Mass is no substitute for the real thing, especially being present to receive the Eucharist, it was a nice Sunday gift to me in that moment.

I am openminded and mature enough in my spiritual quest and faith to realize nothing is odd or coincidental about that happenstance. I know when God is nudging me. I know to stop and listen when he speaks. Clearly, he preferred my church “attendance” that morning and that was okay. It was a win/win – with free XM radio.

So, don’t go far – God will find you. Yes, he is on the Atlantic City Expressway. He’s in our radios. He’s in New Jersey. He’s in our hearts and consciousness. He’s in the Los Angeles cathedral. He is in my Fiat and your Honda, Chevy or BMW. He will follow you wherever you venture. He is even so merciful he’ll protect those crazy speedsters as they weave in and out of traffic too fast. (Those reckless blockheads are probably naively paying for Sirius subscriptions – the joke’s on them.)

God finds us as he needs us … or rather, as we need him. Let’s continue to browse the appropriate channels of life, tune him in, turn up the volume, sit back and enjoy the ride.

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