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In today’s gospel we see the
frightened disciples panic when their boat is being swamped by the
waves. Out of fear the awaken Jesus who was asleep and ask if he
isn’t concerned. Jesus criticizes their lack of faith. It doesn’t
take much faith to call on Jesus in times of fear. Hence the saying,
“There’re no atheists in foxholes.” There was a marked increase in
church attendance across the nation and denominations when we were
attacked on September 11, 2001. Most people, even those weak in
faith, call on God in times of grave need.
The first challenge to that faith is when we don’t get from God what
we asked for. This happens sooner than later for most people. And
many lose confidence in God because it doesn’t work. They can’t get
God to do what they want. Some might hold on trying to earn what
they want. They say more prayers, offer more penance, and/or make
more charitable donations. They try to bargain with God even making
promises of better behavior if God will grant their request. This
too doesn’t work. Too many people get stuck here and, even if they
keep up appearances, have little real trust in God. Their prayer and
church attendance is more likely to be spotty.
Most of us who are regular prayers and Mass attendees have come to
realize that we receive something from God even when we don’t get
what we asked for. Often times God teaches us something in denying
us what we asked for. We may learn we don’t need things or
situations to be as we thought we did. We may find new freedom and
find we can rely on God more than we dared before. Letting go of
trying to be in control of our lives and those we love is a
difficult process. Learning to trust in God’s plan is usually
something we learn through losses. It’s a difficult but important
step in faith to realize that God is not punishing us when we hurt
but may actually be lovingly teaching us and drawing us closer to
himself. Jesus chastises the disciples for their lack of faith when
they panic because of the storm. He wants them to trust in God’s
plan despite the tough times.
There is still another step beyond this. It is a real act of faith
to trust in God in the midst of the storms of life that come our
way. But it takes even greater trust to enter a storm willingly
trusting in the outcome to God. There are storms we avoid and maybe
even think we are doing good to avoid them. Yet the lives of the
saints are filled with stories of people who trusted in God and went
where others feared to tread. They dared to be different, to face
impossible odds, or to willingly take on suffering for the love of
God and others.
In the first reading Job stands before God whom he has challenged
because his life has been unfair. God reminds Job that compared to
God he is small and powerless. It is God who has established what is
good and fair. Job is reminded that he is presumptuous to try to
judge God’s actions. Job must trust in the love of a God who is
otherwise far beyond his comprehension. We must follow Job here. We,
like Job, often want to judge God as unfair because we judge with
worldly eyes. In terms of the things of this world, God does seem
unfair. But faith calls us to trust in God and to go beyond what
makes sense in the world. To truly follow Christ we will be called
to choose to face difficulties others would advise us to avoid. We
will be called to go where we don’t know how things will turn out
and where we may risk our reputation, possessions, and sense of
success. Let us ask God for the strength and courage to go wherever
he leads us. |
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