By ZOE CANNON
GRATITUDE FOR THE GIFT OF FAITH
“O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water” (Psalm 63:1).
Water is essential to all living things; no one would dispute this fact. In the Old Testament, we read of those exiled and suffering in the desert. In the New Testament, Jesus reveals the importance of the living waters of baptism, and seeking the love of God the Father.
We live in a spiritually broken society confused by worldly ideology. People are starved for purpose and meaning. Our hunger and thirst for God are real. The breakdown of the traditional family has created physical and spiritual poverty. Growing up with a father and mother who believe in a loving God is not everyone’s reality; but it certainly is God’s plan. We should never apologize for this privilege, but strive to create this blessing for our children.
As we get older, we evaluate and reflect more on the qualities that make life successful and provide real happiness. What makes you happy? The things I treasure most bring goodness into my life. Our need for love and acceptance, and our ability to return love, makes all the difference in the world. Our greatest challenge is telling those we love when they are offending God.
Salvation is possible for everyone, even those who do not know God. The consequences of original sin make it difficult for the human mind to realize these truths. God makes Himself known through Divine Revelation. He communicates with Scripture, people and covenants for our salvation until He comes again. Jesus came into the world to give us everything we need to quench our thirst for God, and to heal wounded and troubled hearts.
We are naturally religious beings, and God provides a place in our hearts to be filled with His love. The rejection of this generosity leaves us unsatisfied and seeking more, even when we have everything the world tells us we need. Through the process of natural revelation and the gift of reason, we discern a greater power at work in our lives. God’s order is a message of peace, and the voice of conscience makes certain the existence of God.
We built a dock on the shore of our lake for the grandkids to have a place to fish. There is a bench where you can sit out over the water and observe amazing life coexisting in nature. Natural order looks simple and rational from that bench overlooking the water. Great life lessons are learned spending time at this spot.
Navigating through life amidst chaos, we have a responsibility to protect a generation of innocence from the distractions. The witness of Christian charity is the best teacher. Take some time to read Matthew 25:31-46, where Jesus explains the seven corporal works of mercy: to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to give shelter to travellers, to visit the sick, to visit the imprisoned, and to bury the dead.
Our hope is in the Lord! We received a phone call from a friend we ministered to for 17 years in a maximum-security prison. The Catholic faith has been our strong connection. We have kept in touch, but not seen him for nine years. He is now in a reentry program and wanted to let us know it was our support and love that helped him reach this milestone. All things are possible with God, and we all need Him! Amen!