Last Sunday's homily is available
-This Sunday's Scriptures can be found at www.usccb.org/readings
-check out this weeks LinC letter at www.parishLinCLetter.blogspot.com
-I will be celebrating mass this weekend at 8:00am, 11:00am and 6pm on Sunday
Why are You so Terrified?
The apostles in the boat crossing over to the other side is an image of the spiritual journey that all of us are called to make in faith. Jesus has taught us and is with us - but the journey to new and eternal life is not instantaneous, nor trouble free, nor easy, nor ever complete in this life.
How do we know that we are off the path that Jesus is walking with us? Fear! How often are we fearful in daily life? In daily prayer? In daily relationships? How dominant is the fear factor in our journey? That's the thermometer of faith in the Gospel!
Do you not yet have faith?. That's why you were so terrified.
3 comments:
This made me recall something & chuckle. My husband's Father died at the age of 47 of a massive heart attack. My husband's mother was absolutely TERRIFIED about my husband going the same way and dying at a very early age since there were similarities of health & habits. We would talk & she would warn me and beg me pretty regularly to get me to have him eat right & exercise & take care of his health. I felt so helpless to do anything, especially as my husband & I both smoked. I remember actually CRYING that I would be widowed so young at 40 since he would die at 47. I recall those TEARS, oh my, I am shaking my head thinking of it. What a waste, but lesson learned. At the time I was Catholic in name only, not involved with Jesus at all, & boy did it show! I often wonder how people make it through life's difficulties without faith, but I can look around & see it's not pretty!
It's understandable we're afraid when we realize that we don't have control of things. And it seems that the stronger our faith gets, the more "opportunity" we have to learn to let go. It seems like the antidote for this fear is surrender - and the way to surrender is through love of God. I am thinking that we if we keep our eyes on Him, praying more rather than less, bringing Him to mind always throughout the day - then the surrender to Him becomes all the more natural. It is so much more comforting to rest ourselves in that love, than to attempt to hang on to the control which only isolates us - and doesn't even work! I like the Matador's reflection that eternal life is not instantaneous, nor trouble free, nor ever complete in this life. Those words are reassuring that the journey of faith is indeed a complicated one - but I believe accessible through our surrender.
One of life's many Catholic contradictions is how close we are to God in our most fearful times when we abandon all and seek the face of the Risen Lord through the Holy Spirit while frequently asking intercession of Mary Queen of Heaven and our list of saints to whom we pray. Echoing the above comments we fear what we do not know, can not control, or what the negative possibilities may be. Even when the Lord appears distant (sleeping) He is in control if we allow His voice and power into our lives.
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