Have you ever had one of those days? weeks? months? and now we can add…years? 2020 is one of those years. It seems that everything is just a bit, well maybe A BIT, off this year. Divisions among people seem wider, sports don’t seem the same without the fans there watching, Masses in an empty church for weeks, limited capacities, no dining inside of restaurants, restrictions against basic freedoms like celebrating Thanksgiving, watching my daughter’s senior year of basketball on YouTube or Facebook. The list doesn’t seem to end.
But I’m a guy whose glass is always half full – not empty. Even through all of this tumult, there is still so much to give thanks to God for. Our family welcomed two new grandchildren into the fold – Nicholas and Skylar. Professionally, I’ve had the most profitable year of my career. My stocks are up. Families are spending much more time together. I get to watch my daughter play basketball on a nationally broadcast program. And I still get to wake up everyday and give thanks to the God who created me in His image and in His likeness. Can it get any better than that? I believe it can. Each and everyday I need to wake up with the purpose of living my life; but not just my life, but my life with the purpose of fulfilling God’s will for me. A life not focussed on just my wants and needs but to consider the wants and needs of others too. A life that brings others to Christ through my actions and deeds. Isn’t that the point of the Gospel this morning?
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”
So again this morning I will ask my Lord and Savior to use me as He needs me. To live a life of promise and hope in world that needs to see that this is possible to do in such “dire” times. To be that light for Christ so that others can see the way, the truth and the life that they too can have if they just believe in the One that provides for anyone who asks.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (see Isaiah 30:18d) Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
Praise the LORD, for he is good;
sing praise to our God, for he is gracious;
it is fitting to praise him.
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;
the dispersed of Israel he gathers.
R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
He tells the number of the stars;
he calls each by name.
R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
Great is our LORD and mighty in power:
to his wisdom there is no limit.
The LORD sustains the lowly;
the wicked he casts to the ground.
R. Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.
Thus says the Lord GOD,
the Holy One of Israel:
O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem,
no more will you weep;
He will be gracious to you when you cry out,
as soon as he hears he will answer you.
The Lord will give you the bread you need
and the water for which you thirst.
No longer will your Teacher hide himself,
but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,
While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears:
“This is the way; walk in it,”
when you would turn to the right or to the left.
Do something great for our Lord today – cry out if you are in need; ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. God is good; God is gracious; God is forgiving – go to Him now and learn to live a life of promise in this crazy, crazy world.
God’s will, not mine, be done.
Be not afraid; just have faith.
Jesus, I trust in You.
He must increase; I must decrease.
Lord, if You wish, You can make me clean.
But you man of God, chose righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.
St. Mary Magdalen Men of God 