WHO RESCUES US?
I will bless the Lord at all times. God is close to
us the broken hearted; when we are crushed in spirit God saves us.
Today's first reading from the Book of Wisdom is a fairly familiar
Scripture to Catholics from its frequent use in funeral Masses. Very few places
in the Hebrew Scriptures express so strongly a belief in an afterlife. And that
is one of the great consolations our faith offers to those grieving over the
loss of families and friends. Wisdom embraces the idea that we human beings
have an immortal destiny - "imperishable," which comes from God. We
are made in the image of God our Father. The Book of Wisdom asks: think that
the goodness of believers is a waste of time. Then the Book answers the
question and says the following. They are in peace: "yet is their hope
full of immortality." We as believers counter the idea that the material
world alone is real by trust and confidence that God's love for us extends
beyond this short span of life.
Hope and trust can only make sense if you and I believe that our
heavenly Father formed us for eternal life. This brings us the joy and
confidence which marks us as a Christian that depends on God's guidance. This
brings us to a wholeness of body and spirit on our journey, and we will rise as
Jesus has risen.
In the Responsorial Psalm we acclaim: I will bless the Lord at all
times. God is close to us the broken hearted; when we are crushed in spirit God
saves us.
Points to Pray and Ponder: May we open ourselves to the
intimate delights of the presence of God in our souls, and that we treasure the
secret exchange of His trust and love. Who rescues us?