O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your lovingkindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
In todays reading we see evidence of just how deeply our God cares and watches over our lives. In the old testament we are shown how Abraham is troubled by sending Hagar and Ishmael into the desert. His only comfort is the message provided by God that the child and his mother will be safe. In fact the child will be the founder of a new nation. Faith provides Abraham peace and comfort in the decisions and actions he is called to make.
Building on this the Epistle reminds us of our relationship with Jesus and what His covenant provides to ease what ever concerns we might have. The affirmation of our acceptance into His arms assures us the request to move from sin to love is absolutely the foundation of our peace in this life.
In the Gospel we are given the understanding of the expectations of God that we be unconcerned with the daily struggles we face. In this wonderful reading we are advised that our path may not always be calm and unfettered but can be confrontational, irritating and sometimes frightening. Filled with threats, anger and demeaning words. It reminds us that Jesus came to give us the opportunity to take up our cross and follow Him into a growing faith and path to paradise even in the most difficult of times.
Our relationship with God is a wonderful and awesome gift and my prayer for us is that we never lose direction even when the the world seems to be filled with fear, hysteria, anger and going is a bit troublesome let this be our prayer.
Faithful God, your love stands firm from generation to generation,
your mercy is always abundant.
Give us open and understanding hearts, that having heard your word,
we may seek Christ’s presence in all whom we meet. Amen.
May the blessing of God Almighty Father, Son and Holy Spirit be among us today
and remain with us always.
Amen
Fr John