MAY I NOT SINK!
Jesus shows us God is at work in the worst imaginable events.
Today's Scripture
reading is grim. Jesus is barely mentioned. But through our own faith journey
we know not only that God is not absent but also that the way to God is Jesus.
From the beginning of the Gospel, John the Baptist prepares the way for Jesus. John's
death foreshadows and prepares the way for Jesus' death too. In the deaths of
both the Baptist and Jesus, the condemnation comes from political authorities.
In John's death there is not even a hint of resurrection though later Herod
wonders if the Messiah is John raised from the dead. The stage is set for Jesus
Christ to defeat the power of death in his own resurrection.
Many ongoing
stories of the persecution and political problems happen throughout a life
history. Yet Jesus shows us that God who cares for birds of the air and flowers
of the fields cares for us. When we really think about life, we see God working
in our world through other people, events, happenings, scientific ways, rather
than directly. Many times we seem to focus on the things that are grim, and
when we do this we sink.
In our faith we are
able to see God. Jesus shows us God is at work in the worst imaginable events.
Again it is the same God who cares for the birds of the air and flowers of the
fields cares for me and you. In His great love, will answer us and rescue us
from all our troubles. In today's Responsorial Psalm we acclaim: May God, bless
us, and may all the ends of the earth fear him! The first reading from the Book
of Leviticus confirms this. "I, the Lord, am your God."
May I Not Sink!