Daily Reflection Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

These days grace is surly flowing like Niagara Falls. We hear of so much hatred and violence in this world and I can picture God shaking his head and thinking they still do not get it. Everything that is happening today, that hurts one of his children, should never be follow by “I’m doing this in the name of God.” Yet here we are two thousand years later behaving like Jesus never walked this earth. 

It is so easy these days to get sucked into all the negativity of this world. Our high-tech gadgets surround us with twenty-four-hour imagery of all the horrific events taking place. I have reached the point where I have stopped watching the news because I did not want to become desensitized and develop an eye for an eye mentality. With that in mind, I decided to do a search for good news. The first thing that came up was the Eucharistic Procession in Manhattan. Jesus, The Prince of Peace was carried through the streets of New York City. There were thousands in the procession and thousands more witnessed the procession. It immediately took me back fifteen years to when I was working with teenagers on a retreat. The retreat was for teens and led by teens. The young man, who was giving the talk on the Eucharist, read the “Footprints” poem. He reminded every one of Jesus’ answer as to why during times of trouble there was only one set of footprints. Jesus said “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you. When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then I carried you.” This young man added a new ending to the story, and this is what he said. “But Jesus during my most joyous and caring times there is still only one set of footprints. Jesus replied my precious child, it was then you carried me. When you cared for others, you shared my word, you were loving and joyful. It was then you carried me to all in need.”  This young man was wise beyond his years, and he taught this adult a lesson I would never forget.

 These days we need more images of the good and peaceful things that are happening. After remembering the young man’s story, I thought of all the people who donated food to our parish food drive two weeks ago. Of how our local Knights of Columbus are collecting coats for kids and the plans we are now making for the Christmas giving trees. I found a story of a child whose birthday wish was for gifts for children in the hospital. That is what the grace that is overflowing does. It reminds us to be the hands and feet of Jesus in these troubling times. It reminds us to find the JOY in life and then share it with others. It reminds us that Jesus is alive in each one of us. Grace reminds us that we are walking in the footsteps of one, who was the recipient of the worst behavior humanity had to offer and yet still loved and forgave unconditionally. We need to be like the person in the young man’s story and bring the Jesus to all we meet. Then should he come in the second or third watch he will find us prepared and call us blessed servants. 

The will of God will never take you where the grace of God cannot keep you.

Here is the link to the Eucharistic procession that took place earlier this month in New York City.