Daily Reflection for Wednesday, June 08 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Wednesday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/060822.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: 1 Kings 18:20-39
Responsorial: Psalms 16:1b-2ab, 4, 5ab and 8, 11
Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19
Our reflection on Wednesday’s readings:
“LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel
and that I am your servant and have done all these things by your command.” 1 Kings 18:36
Have you ever tested God, asking for proof of his presence, perhaps even doubting his very existence? Being a member of the human race, it’s not uncommon to at the very least have fleeting thoughts if there really is a “higher power” controlling, observing, and intermingling with our daily lives.
In today’s Gospel, Elijah asks the prophets of Baal to prepare offerings of two young bulls, putting them on two unlit piles of on wood so as to invoke each god to light their fire. The one that lights their fire is the real God. After many attempts to “awaken” Baal and see his fire ablaze, they gave up. However, when it was time to sacrifice the other bull – and dousing the burnt offering with jugs of water, almost guaranteeing that the fire would not light – Elijah said a great prayer to the Lord and the fire roared.
On the day I’m writing this reflection, I’m sitting down after returning from Msgr. Paul Koetter’s funeral mass. Fr. Paul was a well-known and beloved priest in our diocese who passed away from ALS the week before. His nephew, Fr. Eric Johnson, delivered a beautiful, personal homily, reminiscing on his uncle’s strong faith throughout his life. “Paul stated that he never understood why he was given ALS to carry but in the midst of suffering he did not blame God. Instead of asking why did God do this to me, Paul sought answers in the question of where is God in this. It is in this question that Paul found hope and that he remembered the Lord’s blessing. It gave him he courage to see not what was seen but unseen in hope.”
It is through those like Fr. Paul who have convinced me – through words and actions – that God is indeed real, and that He exists in everything: happiness and sorrow, loneliness and friendship, grief and joy. Throughout his life, Fr. Paul was confident in the presence of Christ, and shared his belief with literally thousands of others during his lifetime. His life inspires me to do the same with mine.
How do you come to believe in the presence of God? Who in your life reaffirms His presence? Who can you share the Good News with so that others might believe?
Encourage one another and build each other up,
Lisa Thibault