By ZOE CANNON
GRATITUDE FOR THE GIFT OF FAITH
“I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us in CCC 37-38 that Revelation from God is necessary for us to have trust in Him. Our reason alone makes it hard for us to believe because original sin has clouded our minds. The covenants God made with Noah, Abraham, Moses and the prophets, and the fulfillment of Jesus Christ, the Church and Sacraments, all reveal His love and desire to bring happiness into our lives. The light of conscience is a blessing, and everything revealed to us by God helps us understand His compassion and plan for our salvation. His love unfolds as a daily miracle for us.
The very first miracle Jesus performed on earth was at the Wedding Feast of Cana. The significance of this reveal, as He turned water into wine, has wonderful symbolism, and affirms that the Sacrament of Matrimony is very important to God and His plan for Creation. The story of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth is another revelation from God. The greatest miracle given to us every day is the birth of a baby. The power of the Holy Spirit, new birth and all life are gifts revealed to us by a loving Father.
Our response to God’s revelation is an act of faith! I facilitated our first Adult Catechesis class for the year at our parish on Sept. 7. We are beginning a Bible study on the Holy Spirit by Fr. Mitch Pacwa. We left early for the 6:30 p.m. study to get things set up in the classroom. The drive to the church is about 30 minutes, and we always pray a rosary in the car on the way.
We were gone about four hours that evening; and as I was ending the day at 9:30 pm, I noticed the diamond was missing from my wedding band. I knew it was in the ring while we prayed our rosary earlier because I always count the Hail Mary’s with my fingers. I began retracing all the places I had been in that four-hour span. I had covered a lot of ground in that time. I knew it was going to take a miracle to find that tiny and very shiny and special diamond I’d worn for 47 years.
After scouring our car and the house, I went to bed thinking, “If God wants me to have this stone, I will find it”— diamonds and gold are less precious than Jesus, right? I was grateful that I still had the guy who gave it to me, and knew it was a slim chance I would find something so small, especially with no idea where it could have fallen out.
Never underestimate the power of prayer— never allow anything, anyone or any problem to come between you and trust in God. The world is a tough place, but God reveals His Presence in so many ways! He is with us! I found the shiny diamond 17 hours later on the floor near the sacristy door in the church.
That night before our catechism class, I had dropped off an envelope in the sacristy for our pastor. The information was written about the couple we mentored this summer in helping them prepare for their upcoming marriage— how providential that it was found in a place where I was leaving good news about a couple preparing to be married in the Church. God is good; marriage and faith are blessings! The gospel reading for the weekend Mass was about the woman and the lost coin, which took on great meaning for me. God revealed two things in my story of the lost stone: one, I worry too much; and two, He appreciates my persistence in faith! I will work on the first and continue the second---all glory to God! Amen!