Just before the noon Mass last Sunday, one parishioner asked me, "Father, how are you doing?" The tone of the voice seemed to imply some concern for my health. Sometimes in the past, I may have responded, “I am ok." (which means... I could be much better...), but last Sunday, I did not hesitate and responded with much joy, "I am doing very well. The Lord is good to me. HE IS IN CHARGE! I have nothing to worry about! Praise the Lord."
ONLY GOD IS IN CHARGE, no one else. We depend totally on God. Without God, we are nothing. With God everything is possible. GOD has created us because He loves us. He wants us to love Him and return to Him. HE WANTS TO SAVE US from all evil. HE is our only HOPE! HE TAKES AWAY ALL OUR FEARS AND WORRIES! THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOR, HE WANTS OUR HEARTS TO BE FILLED WITH JOY! JOY NOW AND FOREVER! We just have to TRUST IN JESUS and let the HOLY SPIRIT guide our steps!
This is easy to say, it is not so easy to put it in practice. Yes, like many of you, I like to be in charge. Like many of you, I like to be able to control my life. We do not like to be controlled by others. This is our human nature, our egoism, our self-centeredness, our sinfulness since the fall of Adam and Eve. In our own relationships with spouses, siblings, children, co-workers, parishioners, we put ourselves first. We have our own plan. We tend to rely on ourselves, not others. When we lose trust in our own ability to deliver our plans, we become a permanent "worrier.” While we know in our hearts that God is in control, that God is the only one in charge, we tend to forget HIM and keep focusing on ourselves, our own resources. We may even forget to ask for God's help when facing major trials, major challenges... Or we may even lose Faith in God, "God, where are you? How can you let this happen to me?"
The amazing encounter of Our Lord Jesus Christ with the Canaanite woman in last Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 14:21-28) is a reminder that our own Faith in Jesus Christ is weak, even weaker than that of a pagan woman. She had heard about the healing miracles of Jesus. She was not a Jew, but she believed that Jesus could heal her daughter. She loved her daughter greatly. She could not accept the sufferings of her daughter that was constantly tormented by a demon. Her greatest desire in life was to see her daughter healed. Though Jesus rebuked her three times, she kept asking for his help, "Have pity on me Lord, Son of David.” A second time she called out, "LORD, HELP ME.” She was persistent and perseverant in her prayer to Jesus. She is a model for each of us. As St John Vianney said, "What we only have to do is TO PRAY ... and TO LOVE." The Canaanite woman did LOVE her daughter and she did PRAY, reaching out to Jesus with great perseverance and FAITH! She put all her trust in Jesus!
Let us pray together, "JESUS, you are in charge of my life. Jesus, you are my savior. Jesus, I trust in You. Jesus, take away all my fears, all my worries. Jesus, help me to love you and love others I encounter in my life. Jesus, give me HOPE, PEACE and JOY. Jesus, help me! Jesus, save me!"