Believe and the Lord will Provide
A Reflection for 17th Ordinary Sunday
July 29, 2018
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFM
www.missionstsergius.org www.orderfranciscansofmercy.org
Listening
to the news today is so depressing, Battles over immigrants, wars rage in the
middle east, natural disasters are occurring all over the globe, people in
Africa are being devastated by hunger,
I have heard many say, “What is happening in
this world, people are so self-concerned and don’t seem to care about anybody
but themselves” “The way things are in
the world today, my heart is full of fear” “Why is there so much chaos,
tribulation in the world ?”
My
answer to them is the theme of today’s reflection, “Believe in God,” “Put your
trust and Faith in God”, “Turn toward God and work hard to live as Jesus taught
us” “Trust in God and He will take care of You”
In
this Sunday’s gospel, the story of the miracle of the loaves and fishes, is an
example of what is possible when you trust in God.
The
five loaves of bread and two fish were enough to feed a huge multitude of
people who had followed Christ. After all had eaten their fill there were still
twelve baskets leftover.
This
story is an example of what is possible if we put our trust and faith in
Almighty God.
In
Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he is entreating the people to “Lead a life
worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and
meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the
unity of the Holy Spirit in the bond of peace. Live according to the call God
has given you and accept it with humility and meekness and patience with others
always seeking the gifts of The Holy Spirit to sustain you.
“In A
Bond Of Peace” As long as individuals, governments, church denominations and
nations cannot live in a Bond of Peace we seem to be destined to continually
bring on ourselves the troubles we are experiencing.
As
long as we continue to be focused on our own personal needs and not expand our
horizons to actively take an interest in the needs and concerns of all God‘s
children, as long as we fail to extend outreach to those in need and
demonstrate compassion, as long as we fail to turn to Almighty God and live
according to the commandment given us by Jesus Christ “Love the Lord, your God,
with your whole heart, mind, soul and body and love your neighbor as yourself”
we will continue to see strife and discord running rampant through the world.
Strife,
jealousy, greed, and discord are the tools the Evil one uses in his attempt to
gain dominance over Almighty God and gain followers to His evil intent of
becoming greater than Almighty God.
Today,
we desperately need to turn our focus toward the teachings of Jesus Christ and
begin to put our faith into action. We must begin to be more accepting of God’s
diversity. We need to put an end to all discrimination based on a person’s
marital status, sexual orientation or race. We need to share the blessings that
God has provided us with those less fortunate. We must stop being self-centered
and greedy and more generous. In short, we need to believe and trust in
Almighty God, Turn to Him pleading for justice for all His Children.
Jesus
has said: "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me,
though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and whoever lives and believes in me shall
never die.” (John 11:25-26)
The
letter of Paul to the Ephesians ends with the reminder “There is one body and
one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call,
ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, ONE GOD and father of us all, who is above
all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6)
I
implore each of you as you go forth into the world today and every day to put
God first and foremost in your daily actions. Treat everyone in the same way as
you yourself want to be treated. Let God know that you accept His will totally
and completely even when it does not fit your agenda.
I
believe that if each and every one of us were to actually live this way and
allow God’s grace to flow through us to all we encounter, we could actually see
changes for the Good in the world.
If we
put our total trust in God, I know, from personal experience, that He will
provide us with all that
we
need, when we need it and in proportion to how much we need.
Go
forth and Believe in God totally and He will Provide. AMEN
