Fr. Don's Daily Reflection - December 30, 2024
Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from You.”
Elsewhere in these reflections I have made a point about how ideal it is if, in our prayers of petition, instead of spelling out for God what God must do, we are able simply to trust God’s loving care for us. More reflection on my experience and that of others tells me to modify that. My remarks about simply trusting God still, I think, describe the ideal situation, still something we should aim for. But . . .
When we’re in any difficulty or pain, large or small, any terror, fear, great concern for others, worry about others or ourselves, etc., we will almost automatically pray for specific help. It can go all the way from praying as we watch a wrestling match or a hockey game that "our" team win to praying that our spouse overcomes that cancerous tumor. We pray that the estranged couple is able to save their marriage; we pray as we fall from our bike that we don't break anything; we pray that the pesky stomach ailment will go away; we pray that dad's dementia does not get any worse; we pray for successful treatment of the neighboring four-year-old’s leukemia. Very likely, no matter how deep our trust in God's loving intentions in our regard we still let the immediate need come to the fore.
Psalm 147 says that God not only calls each star by name but "heals the brokenhearted." God stands at the origin and support of the universe and at the same time listens to our sorrows and worries. Though some of our requests of God may seem petty, who are we to put limits to God's magnanimity or willingness to heal? Prayer is its own reward. Just the fact of praying is basic to any genuine Christian life. It changes us--now or later. How it works, what it does, etc.? Ultimately, trust in God’s love will out!
Psalm 27: “I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness / in the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord; be strong; / be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!”
