WHAT COULD MAKE US FAIL TO RECOGNIZE GOD’S INTERVENTION IN OUR LIVES?
First Reading: Hebrews 12:4-7,11-15
Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 102(103):1-2,13-14,17-18
Gospel Reading: Mark 6:1-6
While we readily recognize God’s interventions through our joyful experiences and successful moments; at times, we fail to recognize Him through the sad and bitter experiences of life, as a result of lack of faith. Faith is a necessary condition for Jesus to act and grant His graces. That is why Jesus was unable to perform wonders among his countrymen: “He could not perform any miracle there… He was amazed at their lack of faith.”
The first reading reminds us that we, too, can dwell on contrary appearances and fail to recognize God’s interventions in our lives and in the life of the world. When we find ourselves in the midst of trials, which seem incomprehensible and even absurd, we become restless and easily succumb to temptation against faith. God’s Word today helps us to stand firm. It does not give us direct answers to each case of suffering, but it invites us to rediscover that filial attitude that, in times of pain, allows us to recognize the hand of a God who is, above all, our Father. When experiencing setbacks and pain, God never removes his gift from him, but helps him to grow in an attitude of trust and abandonment in Him, even in situations of tears and blood – because “suffering is part of our training.” Not even Jesus, the favourite, holy and innocent Son, was spared: “The punishment that saves us fell on him, we were healed by his wounds” (Is 53, 5).
Dear friends in Christ, there is no trial so painful that it does not allow us to cast our gaze on Him to rediscover in his tears of compassion the certainty that suffering, pain, sorrow, etc., are not a curse, but a path that love itself takes us through, in its endless embrace. We cannot understand! God is God and, before Him, in view of his unfathomable ways, one only has to assume an attitude of adoration and faith. The biggest scandal for our hearts is that, not only is suffering not removed from us, but that God Himself came among us in poverty, insignificance, shedding his human tears as a Son. The Letter to the Hebrews already told us how Jesus wanted to learn obedience by the things he suffered, he wanted to know that painful education that we need. When, on our side, we live these moments of painful education, we are united with Him in a special way and we can grow a lot in his love.
Therefore, we are called, today, to remember that “the Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him,” as today’s Psalmist points out; whether in sorrow or in joy, health or sickness, success or failure, happiness or sadness, etc., God is always working in our lives. We should, in faith, discover his loving presence, unite our will with His and surrender to his divine plans.
Shalom!
© Fr. Chinaka Justin Mbaeri, OSJ
Paroquia Nossa Senhora de Fatima, Vila Sabrina, São Paulo, Brazil
nozickcjoe@gmail.com / fadacjay@gmail.com
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PS: Have you prayed your Rosary today?
Amen and thank you Padre .