An eerie first reading today from Wisdom 2. It describes the things that Jesus went through to a tee. Be sure to read it and see if you don’t shake your head in amazement knowing that this was written hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. The Gospel reading today is from John 7, where the people of Galilee were wondering if this Jesus could be the Christ. “When the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.” And Jesus lets them know that they don’t truly know where he is from; that he has come from the Father.
I’d like us to reflect today on our Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 34. The response at Mass today is from verse 19, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” Psalm 34 is a song of reassurance to those who trust in the Lord. “When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them.” But all is not peaches and cream…”Many are the troubles of the just man, but out of them all the Lord delivers him.”
It’s not always easy to do the right thing, to follow God’s ways. In fact, following God is more often the difficult road. And if we remove our eyes from the eternal, we will certainly get lost. Because doing the easy thing, when it is against God’s will, has only one reward, and that is that it is easy. But when we follow God, we can know that it will all pay off in the end. How do I know? Well, just read Psalm 34. (I shouldn’t do this, but the end gives it away…”The Lord redeems loyal servants; no one is condemned whose refuge is God.)
Father, thank you for hearing our cries, for rescuing us from all distress, because we believe in you. Give us the grace to follow all of your ways. Amen.
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