Scripture:
Reflection:
The God of Our Being and Meaning
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?” John 6:9
How often this is the critical question of our lives! How do we get through life when we are so flawed and pathetic? We so quickly forget our Creator and ourselves as creatures. As a young man, the first quote in the original Greek from the New Testament that I memorized are the words of Jesus:” ‘If You can?’ All things are possible to him who believes.” Mk 9: 23 Our Father in Heaven creates not only our being but also our meaning! His creative power includes not only our existence but also our significance. His plans for our lives are full of His creative energy as much as when He gave us being out of nothing! Our being and meaning are in His wounded hands! On our part, we must trust in His creative and loving plans for us!
The world has been paralyzed by fear. Problems are an opportunity to build our trust in God’s loving designs in life. That is why He lets us get into freighting situations! One must think long and hard at Jesus on the cross to be absolutely convinced of His loving fondness and care for us. “You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD” Is 62:3
Jesus’ final words on the cross in Luke are a quote from SS., “And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands, I commit My spirit.” Having said this, He breathed His last.” Lk 23:46 The word in the inspired Greek for commit is paratithēmi i,e, total giving.
Jesus says in today’s liturgy, “Have the people recline.” John 6:7 We must learn to relax in the hands of the risen Jesus, which still have the mark of the nails! When Christ appeared to his apostles, He dealt with their terrible fear and unbelief with the words: “See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see.” The word used for touch is psēlaphaō which means to handle or gently feel the wounds in His hands and feet. That is our vaccine for fear and courage to live!
Fr. Bob Weiss, C.P. preaches Parish Missions and is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.