Fr Ed Homily 7-28-20

Turning to God

Jeremiah is often difficult to read. He sees all the sin in the world. People are dying of sickness and hunger. The wars and destruction both within the country and attacks from outside the country. Generally, when I try to read a few sentences, I stop and consider what is happening around us today. It’s like I’m reading a news report from any of our big cities. For the most part, I have a positive outlook, but Jeremiah challenges even the best of us. Why?

I think faith is the answer. When all is going well, we have a plan for our lives. Everyone is healthy, God is in heaven smiling upon us, we feel that we have control, and we feel that this is the way life is supposed to be. But let one little thing go wrong, and we complain to God. Things like a virus and riots challenge us every day, and suddenly we don’t know who to turn to. Intuitively, we know that we must turn to God. Why? I think we realize that when everything goes well, we never turn to God. Not even to thank Him. If the little things go wrong now, we may feel a little self-conscious turning to God for help. And if our world is collapsing around us, then we might begin to think that God does not love us at all. We have convinced ourselves that God has no love for us. How did we do that? Because we think we’re in control.

We want to be in control, but in reality, we must realize that God is always in control. We must trust Him. If we can give everything to God when things go very well, it will be easier for us to trust him when things are not going so well. Wherever you are today, come now to God. Offer your appreciation for what is happening in your life. Yes, this is the perfect time, right now, go to God and thank Him for your many blessings.

May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen