COURAGE IN LIFE
As we go through
life we are not all alone. We have the help, the guidance, and the protection
of a loving Father.
Hosea
is the prophet of God's love. Yesterday, Hosea's reading was touching and
tender. He presented God as a Father who scoops His child, Israel, into His
arms and presses Him against His cheek. Today, fully aware of Israel's
disobedience, he cries out, "Return, O Israel, to the Lord, your God"
(Hos 14:2). Hosea's words easily make us think of the parable in which Jesus
shows the young prodigal son returning to his Father. That also is a touching
and tender scene and an image of how completely God loves us despite our
failures. God's love goes on and on. This image hits home for most people.
The
knowledge that God is our Father should give us courage in life, especially
when times are difficult. Jesus in the Gospel warned His disciples that they
would be like "sheep among wolves" (Mt 10:16), and that they would be
hated because of Him. The particular problems faced by the disciples may not be
identical with ours, but there are parallels nonetheless. There is no point in
trying to cite examples, since difficulties and trials are different for each
one of us, and we know our own problems well enough.
The
point is that as we go through life we are not all alone. We have the help, the
guidance, and the protection of a loving Father. Jesus told us in the Gospels,
"Do not be afraid, I am with you always" (cf. Mt 28:20). How can we
go to Him? A good way to start is by prayer. Simply talk to our Lord. Today in
Psalm 51, we hear, "O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your
praise." The Liturgy of the Hours is a public form of prayer of the church
with prescribed psalms, prayers, readings for various times of the day and
night. Each recitation of prayer begins with these words of Psalm 51. Psalm 51
is a song of repentance; it is also a song of joy. When we pray this psalm, we
express sorrow for sin, perhaps even for sins like those which Hosea preached:
infidelity and idolatry. We come asking God for mercy, for a new heart, and for
renewal in spirit. We can pray trusting in the greatness of God's compassion.
We have confidence that God will hear and answer us. As if anticipating the
touch of God, and already beginning to experience it, we know what the next
step will be. We cannot remain silent. We just have to tell others about God,
and share His love. We have to proclaim praise to God always.
We also know that God is especially present to
us through His Son in the Eucharist. That is the most important help of all.
But when we pray in the Lord's Prayer for our daily bread, we should understand
that this daily bread includes not only the Eucharist and our natural food, but
also everything we need to continue as faithful and loving children of God.
Even when we sin, God calls us to return to His loving embrace. With God as our
Father, we can and should lead lives of praise to Him, with joy in our lives
and ministry, and peace always within our hearts and with our neighbors!
Let
us continue our faith journey together.