This is an essential truth for us in our recovery journey. It is not unusual to feel that God is not listening or that He is not acting. Perhaps our trust has been harmed by unfortunate events that we think God should have prevented, or that our lives were marked by tragedy or pain that we still haven’t healed from. Perhaps we have even prayed a long time for something that has not yet emerged.
We must, however, always affirm to ourselves and through our prayer that God is able to change the situation. He has the power. We can make a strong statement of faith, knowing that God will do all of the good that we need in our lives.
Today’s Responsorial Psalm speaks also of how through His holy prophets, God made promises; He will save us from our enemies. Our spiritual enemies are always ready to bring upon temptation and causes for relapse but God has promised to save us from those demons and all who hate us. Our task is to worship Him with reverence.
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus wonders why someone considers Him to be an earthly judge of legal matters. Jesus is the eternal judge, and we can go to Him with our concerns. But this access to Jesus is not to be abused for worldly glory or to build up our earthly possessions. In the parable Jesus then tells, the rich man thought he had gained happiness and peace by having an abundance for himself. However, Jesus points out that that very night his life was demanded of him. True happiness, therefore, is in giving and in offering service—and not in piling up things, pleasures, and comforts for ourselves that have no lasting value in the eyes of our eternal judge.
Reflection Questions
- Do you find yourself, at times, accumulating possessions to make up for the loss of addictive living? What can you do to store up heavenly treasures instead?
- What are some of the ways you deepen your knowledge about God and who He really is?
Daily Mass Readings
First Reading: Romans 4:20-25
Responsorial Psalm: Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75
Gospel: Luke 12:13-21
Reflection by Bill B.