By ZOE CANNON
GRATITUDE FOR THE GIFT OF FAITH
“Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you” (Mark 11:24).
We pray the Nicene Creed during Mass, and the prayer is handed down with great authority. “I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.”
The world is in trouble, and there seems to be no escaping the effects of injustice and corruption in our society. No one is exempt from the danger of evil intentions. All people suffer from the consequences of those attempting to destroy God’s plan for our lives.
The good news? We receive comfort when we pray to a merciful God.
In life, we have either been through painful trials; are suffering now; or will experience them in the future. Our hope is in the Lord! He knows all things and will ultimately be the judge of every injustice generated here on earth. Hold tight to the cross in prayer, and remember that the victory over evil has already been won. To those who believe, remember the words of St. Paul. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
Our Creator has blessed the Church with 2,000 years of salvation history to confirm His Almighty power. God continues to offer guidance through the Holy Spirit! As imperfect human beings, we worry when fear and doubt enter our minds and hearts. People become divided by a misrepresentation of truth because our sources are not always aligned with God.
We find truth in the words from Sacred Scripture! “Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious: I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
There is one concern I lift up daily in prayer; it is for the condition of the world we will leave for our children. Spending time with children helps me realize why Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14).
I am blessed to be the Mom of four children, and I cherish the memories from their early years. But as a grandma, I seem to have an even greater appreciation for the precious heart of a child. It may be the extra time a grandma has to do the fun stuff, with the blessing of a good night’s sleep afterward; or maybe it is the amazing resemblance observed in these little ones provided by years of joy from watching their parents grow up.
Whatever the reason, these little miracles, created by God, with their innocence, obedience, honesty, and unconditional love, need our protection and prayers. Teaching children about Jesus will always serve them well in life. Their sweet questions and conversations keep us young at heart. But trust me, they can also teach us many things about how to live.
Lent can be a time to do things that will make the world a better place. I pray everyone will take time to help children know and love Jesus during this special time of preparation. God, please protect children from influences that are not good. Help us be the person we needed when we were a child, and may our prayers for them create a world filled with your love.
I believe Christ is counting on us, I believe children need us, and I believe the future of the world depends on us! We have reason to believe! Amen!