Cardinal Tobin: God favors smallness

Then the Lord said: Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord; the Lord will pass by. There was a strong and violent wind rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the Lord —but the Lord was not in the wind; after the wind, an earthquake—but the Lord was not in the earthquake; after the earthquake, fire—but the Lord was not in the fire; after the fire, a light silent sound (1 Kings 19:11–13). 

My dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

In the Old Testament’s First Book of Kings (19:11–13), we read that God manifested Himself to the prophet Elijah not in a mighty wind, an earthquake, or a roaring fire, but in “a light silent sound” or, in some translations, “a still small voice.” We are told that God whispers to us gently. He does not shout.

God often communicates with us through quiet, personal revelation rather than dramatic or overwhelming events, requiring believers to be attentive to hear Him.  So, if we want to hear His voice—to encounter the living God—we ourselves must be quiet and attentive to what is being shared with us in the silence of our hearts.

The parables of Jesus often contain gentle whispers that reveal to us the mind of God. As Pope Leo XIV told us in his Angelus message for Sunday, July 19 (see selection below), God favors smallness. He doesn’t reveal Himself through spectacular signs or mighty deeds. His presence is more subtle.

The parables of Jesus show us that God’s ways are not our ways. Contrary to our ordinary expectations, God favors mercy over vengeance. He says that there is more rejoicing in heaven over the recovery of one lost soul than the 99 who remained faithful. And we are led to believe that God is like an employer who generously compensates those who have worked only one hour at the same rate as those who have labored all day long.

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