Deacon Bill's Blog

Jesus teaches us some lessons today about handling fear.  There’s probably not one of us here today that, in the midst of the turbulence that we have faced this year, who can boast that they have stood above it all and have not had some sense of fear and trepidation. Maybe we’ve had the illness affect us or a loved one directly. Maybe it got a little scary for us watching news reports of outbreaks including the recent one at Manor Care. Maybe it wasn’t so much the disease itself, but it was the ancillary effects such as a job loss or the stock market taking a sudden nose dive. Like the disciples, we too may have been, or continue to be, terrified.  How is it that we can best handle our fears? 

Have you ever known someone who, no matter how old they were, seemed more like a child than an adult? It’s like they chose to never grow up – sort of like the Tom Hanks character in the movie “Big”, from 1988 (32 years ago). Today’s readings remind us that God wishes for us to be more like children, to have a childlike faith. Having a childlike faith enables us to grow in wisdom.

In order to be transformed as we are called to this Lenten season, Jesus is asking us to be people of action. Stay connected to him by making time to be with him in prayer. Deliberately show our gratitude even in the midst of the storms. Stop playing the comparison game, on social media or wherever we feel inclined to unnecessarily seek the approval of others. And lastly, be cheerful givers. Be generous with our words of praise, and give of our time, our talent and our treasure.

The good news of Lent: God sees each of us. He knows us. He is committed to us. He passionately loves us. No amount of work on our part can increase his love for us. And despite the fact that we may not be able to see his face, hear his voice, or feel his touch, we can trust him.

If we only dabble in our faith lives, we will only have enough religion to make ourselves miserable. But if we dwell in it, dwell in Him, then we will gain more and more of His presence. If we invest time with Jesus in a lifestyle of worship, and work at our spiritual fitness, we begin to not just know more about Him- we begin, more importantly, to have a deeper relationship... with him. Catholic writer, Matthew Kelly, puts it this way: “Our lives change when our habits change.”