As a people, we sometimes lose sight of the gifts that God has given us until we find ourselves in circumstances where we are either in need, or afraid, or perhaps both. The Israelites found themselves without water, and promptly forgot all that the Lord had done for them bringing them out of slavery, and even went so far as to say they might have been better off back in Egypt. I have no doubts that as this coronavirus threat continues, we will hear the inevitable questions about “How could God allow this to happen?”. We’ve heard that same kind of question many times before when we are faced with adversity, this is just the latest issue because we are an equally forgetful people with no real sense of gratitude for the gifts we are given each day.
Let’s be blunt, as much as we like to think our existence is very solid and ordered, that is an illusion. We would be fortunate to leave Church and make it home in one peace without God’s help – that is more the reality of our own fragile and unpredictable existence. We don’t like to look at it that way, because it is uncomfortable for us to do so, that would be admitting how little control we really have, and in point of fact, how truly vulnerable we really are. So, we consequently push thoughts of acknowledging God’s graces aside, and the subsequent reliance that is our reality along with them, and console ourselves daily with thoughts that are more comfortable for us to digest. You see, when we self-medicate that way, we will inevitably lose the right mindset of gratitude for things He has already done for us, confidence in what He continues to do for us each day, and trust in what He will continue to do to guard and protect us in the future. Now, does this mean we should forget all our concerns and be oblivious to things that come along as part of our temporal lives? Of course not, God expects us to respect the gift of life that he has given us enough to do our part, but what it does mean is that we should not become so mired in worry and self-concern, that forget to trust in God’s help, and we forget to take care of one another due to excessive focus on our situation. There is a balance to be struck, that involves prudence, as part of God’s gift of intellect to each of us, and faith in His ultimate control and plan.
When Jesus spoke about the wellspring of living water that the Samaritan woman sought, part of that lifegiving water is Holy Spirit within each one of us allowing us to receive God’s grace of providence and protection in our lives. It allows us to receive these gifts in faith, which is how they must be embraced in order for them to truly work within each of us. The beauty of this wellspring of living water, is that like most flowing water, the longer it moves, the more it wears away at the hindrances that sometimes impede its flow. It is a self-improving situation from God’s grace if we allow it to be. Like the woman at the well, if we but ask for this wellspring, God will provide it. We must then nurture it by putting it into practice and cherishing it by showing our love and gratitude to God in the only way we really can – by a reliance on Him as His children that truly demonstrates our love and our trust. We sweep our house clean by seeking repentance and forgiveness that creates a fitting place for His spirit to reside. We take the time to meditate on the gifts he has given us, we acknowledge our need for Him in every moment of our lives, and we turn ourselves over to His care with trust and peace.
Our Lord told us we would have trouble in this life, this was one of those moments when you could tell He was speaking very plainly and directly rather than as part of a parable. His purpose in that statement, to let us know that this life is a testing ground for each of us, and unlike most tests, the answers come not just from within ourselves, but from our ultimate source of knowledge and grace. The question is, will we place our faith where it belongs, and allow Him to help us, or will we ignore the one constant to be counted on in a fragile reality? Allow Him to guide you and protect you, take care of His other children – your brothers and sisters, and face adversity as one, as the Body of Christ.
The Deacons Bench 