St. Bede-St. Denis Parish Home

Dear brothers and sisters,

 

My grandfather always said goodbye to us before going to bed with a sigh and a "see you tomorrow, God willing." The next day, when he passed someone on the street, saying "go with God" was his way of saying good morning, the quick greeting we give to acquaintances. These phrases and customs may seem like phrases and customs from another era, because the reality we live today is that God has been disappearing from our language as an expression of what has happened in our lives. We have normalized indifference, and God has been fading from life like that friend who, if we don’t see Him, gradually falls into oblivion.

 

In such a context, Jesus today asks us not to forget God. Jesus calls us to turn to Him insistently day and night, without allowing ourselves to be overcome by disenchantment, doubt, or despair. Jesus invites us to pray from life and for life. Because prayer is neither going to Him to file a complaint when we’re angry with the world, nor invoking the genie in the bottle to have our wishes immediately granted.

 

Payer is a daily encounter with the One we know loves us, so that we feel welcomed and loved. We pray to seek inspiration, experience peace, and to invoke and unburden to God our needs and those of the people we love. Only prayer will allow us to see God in life and see life from God’s perspective. Only prayer will make us authentic, constant believers, grounded on a firm rock amidst the ups and downs of life. Jesus promises us that God will not forget those who turn to Him day and night.

 

In this society with such a short memory, where we quickly forget one thing and move on to another, let us not allow indifference toward God to become normal in our lives. Let us not forget Him. Let us not stop praying. God is still there waiting to welcome, encourage, forgive, strengthen with His grace, and bestow His peace. God never tires of listening, even though sometimes we are the ones who have grown weary of turning to Him.

 

Happy Sunday!

 

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