Daily Reflection for Thursday, July 28, 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Thursday’s readings at this link: CLICK HERE
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Jeremiah 18:1-6
Responsorial: Psalm 146:1B-6AB
Gospel: Matthew 13:47-53
Our Reflection on Thursday’s Reading:
Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly in his hand, he tried again, making of the clay another object whatever sort he pleased. Jeremiah 18:4
After a 10-day family road trip and a week of COVID-imposed quarantine, my family was driving me nuts. I know that the feeling was mutual since I was in a prolonged funk and was not a happy camper. After multiple days of yelling, hurt feelings, apologies and more arguments over the most trivial things, we decided it was time for a reset. Sometimes what you’re doing just isn’t working and it’s time to admit it and try something else. Our methods of dealing with things were not working out and were only making everyone miserable. We decided to change our family approach to quarantine and give everyone more space. Gradually people were happier and more well-adjusted. My mood improved dramatically and life seemed to balance itself out.
My relationship with God is sometimes like this too. Sometimes what I’m doing just doesn’t seem to do the trick. I go to mass and my mind is wandering. I try to pray and end up just dwelling on my fears, anxieties and frustrations rather than listening for God’s suggestions. We all get in ruts and then it’s hard to respond to the new issues that crop up in our daily life. We have gotten out of balance and our relationship with God may seem to be fracturing a bit.
Thankfully we have a merciful God who doesn’t get frustrated with us and toss us aside. He is the potter who sees that our priorities have become lopsided or that the once strong relationship is beginning to crack. Instead of abandoning His efforts, He starts over and corrects the mistake to make the pot whole and useful again.
Right now, I need God to remold me, to smooth out my rough edges and re-center me. As part of my reset in my family life, I realized that I also had been neglecting God. He has given us so many tools and graces to help us in our faith journey—prayer, the support of others, the Eucharist, and reconciliation. I know that some people find it awkward to discuss their sins and weakness and some might even think it’s unnecessary to confess their sins, but before a problem can be corrected you first have to admit that there’s a problem in the first place. Saying it out loud is tough, but necessary to hold yourself accountable. Sure, it’s a bit uncomfortable, but I find the process cathartic and always leave feeling more at peace and spiritually balanced.
If you feel that your relationship with God is getting a bit stale or in need of a reset, it may time to make a visit to the confessional. Who knows what God will make out of you?
Peace and blessings,
Pete Kuester