Where is God

Yesterday was another beautiful fall day here in Michigan.  As I walked around saying my rosary, there were many people outside --- playing with kids, walking the dog, or raking leaves.  And whenever I passed by them, I raised the rosary in my hand to the beautiful sky above and said: “Isn’t it great how God answers prayers for our country?”  Most agreed in one form or another, some saying: “Yes, keep praying.”  Thinking back on that wonderful walk, perhaps I should have suggested they pray too!  Nah! That’s for the Holy Spirit to suggest.

At this morning’s early men’s group meeting, we watched a video where the priest speaker noted that his mother had stage 4 cancer Alzheimer’s disease.  She recognized no one, but the family prayed next to her in her final days.  When suddenly, she sat up, now totally aware of her surroundings.  Her doctors were astonished; she was cured!  In the days that followed, she spoke to them of her many blessings, AND of that person who really messed up her life.  When the topic came up, her family spoke to her of the Catholic teaching on importance of forgiveness (see Mt 5:23 and 18:15), The video speaker said that after a while his mother said she understood, and “yes, I forgive her.”  And almost instantly, her Alzheimer’s returned.  Forgiveness is so important, and God had given her the grace to do so before she died.  Wow!

As the video progressed, it was explained how important it is that we accept sufferings in our lives, and offer them as atonement for our sins, and the souls in Purgatory.  Like Peter walking on the water towards Jesus, when he turned away from Jesus to look at the troubles around him, he began to sink.  “Offer it up” used to be a common phrase, but the heart of it is still correct today.  We can get to heaven by staying focused on Jesus, not ourselves.

After this morning’s men’s meeting, I went to a quiet area of the church where a couple of us sometimes spoke of God in our lives.  This morning I knew no one would join me there, and I thought to go home and have a nap before mass, but I sat down alone and closed my eyes in prayer. When I opened my eyes, I was surprised at the time that had passed, and got up to go home, but I paused as a friend arrived early for mass.  It was then I noticed the beautiful, awesome, sunrise.  Still below the horizon, an huge array of red clouds reflected the rising sun.  As I stood there facing East and quietly praying and thanking God for His blessings, I could see the very slow increase in red clouds, the beauty slowly, quietly moving West.  Dark clouds became shadowy, then a faint pinkish color, becoming more red in the few minutes I stood there.  Like Peter, I could see God’s work as long as I stayed focused on Him, and not the dark around.   

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I laughed out loud as mass began a short while later, and the choirmaster said to “turn to hymn number 576 in your hymnal, The Canticle of the Sun.

The Canticle of the Sun

The heavens are telling the glory of God,
and all creation is shouting for joy,
Come, dance in the forest,
Come, play in the field,
And sing, sing to the glory of the Lord.

Praise for the sun, the bringer of day
He carries caries the light of the Lord in his rays.
The moon and the stars who light up the way,
Unto Your throne.

 

And at the mass end was the recessional hymn, number 591: This Little Light of Mine:

This Little Light of Mine

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine,
Let it shine; let it shine; let it shine

Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine.
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine.
Everywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine,
Let it shine; let it shine; let it shine.

Jesus gave it to me, I’m gonna let it shine.
Jesus gave it to me, I’m gonna let it shine.
Jesus gave it to me, I’m gonna let it shine.
Let it shine; let it shine; let it shine.

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Sometimes people in the meetings I attend discuss important matters, like kids, spouse, work, and their personal problems.  As friends, we have empathy and pray for them.  But in the culture are many who think like Pilate, when he asked Jesus: “What is truth?”  They view all bad things as being allowed by God, and in that they are correct, but God was there, even in the darkness; like the red clouds among the darkness.  Where is God?  He is always with us.  We need to seek Him, and look at Him and trust, as Peter did when walking on the water.  No matter how dark and painful our times may appear, they are not as bad as those of Jesus, God made man, as He neared His terrible passion and death.  And it seems as if He would go through that alone.  “The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you (disciples) will be scattered, every man to his home, and will leave Me alone; yet I am not alone for the Father is with me (Jn 16:32).

Where is God?  He is always with us, His children.

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I set out delivering groceries to the homebound later that afternoon, and the sky was clear and warm.  When finished, I headed to the chapel and as I arrived was surprised to see a few tiny drops hit my windshield.  And was equally surprised/shocked a short while at the loud BOOM that rattled the windows of the chapel.  And as a heavy rain began pouring down, I thought: “what better place could I be?”  The rain continued pouring down, but began to ease up as I drove home.  And as I pulled into my drive it stopped ---- so I could go out and get the mail.  And I wasn’t a bit surprised. 

 

Fr. Riccardo Talk

 

On July 17, 2022, Fr. John Riccardo will be the keynote speaker at a banquet sponsored by the Plymouth Right to Life organization.  The dinner event, in Plymouth Michigan, is titled: “We Were Made to Be Courageous”, and Jim Harbaugh, Michigan quarterback and coach, will also be there with his wife, Sarah, and Michigan coach George Helow, too.  The Master of Ceremonies is Dr. Ray Guarendi, noted Catholic psychologist, author and radio program host. I’m sure it will be a most memorable night.

The event will include U-M football highlights, dinner, Fr. Riccardo’s talk, and also feature various football auction items, including the usual signed football jerseys, etc. and a week vacation in Cabo San Lucas ---- which, in God’s usual coincidences, someone mentioned to me this week is a super luxury resort.  There is also a limited, pre-event for a few special donors.  

You can get tickets to the event and see a flyer at plymouthrtl.org. They are also looking for event sponsors, whose name/business would be noted in the table programs.  This local Plymouth Right to Life organization is taking a big step in sponsoring this event (and a big financial risk).  Please support their brave efforts.       

I mention this event on my blog because I have known (and deeply admire) Fr. Riccardo for a number of years, and have fond memories of Harbaugh’s playing years, and even Guarendi’s radio program --- he gives wonderful advice on Catholic radio.  I also am a pro-life supporter and, as this event title highlights, these days ahead may be difficult in our country.  I’m reminded of the recent Gospel where many left Jesus because He said some hard things, and so He turned to Peter and asked: “Will you leave also?” 

Peter didn’t, and the event next month is titled: We Were Made to Be Courageous. It reminds me of the saying: When the going gets tough, the tough get going --- and that doesn’t mean leave!

I never thought I’d live to see days like this in our country, but maybe that is why I (and you) are here now, to be courageous.

He Makes All Things Good

 

God makes all things good for those who trust in Him.

This past week was one of good news --- to counter the bad.  I and others have said that there is a good reason for the bad things which God permits to happen, or “God makes good out of the bad,” so we must trust in Him at all times.  W don’t always see that good, but this week I did, and so I thought I’d document some of God’s blessings.

Last year, due to the Covid shutdowns, I had no garden.  This year, I went to the nursery for plants and planted as usual.  Unlike some recent years, however, my garden now appears robust this year.  Tomato plants are tall and full of buds, and all the vine plants are climbing.  And yesterday I picked and then froze 5 quarts of large green beans --- the first picking.  I expect one or two more.  Two years of mulch on the ground, tilled in, made this year’s garden strong (all the rains helped, too, I’m sure).  I had new fencing put around the garden to protect it from hungry critters.  Having no garden last year made me sad, but this year is a joy that I just didn’t dwell on last year.  My trust was weak.

This past week my lawn man was trimming a small dead twig off a tree in my backyard, when suddenly the huge branch it was attached to came crashing down, narrowly missing him.  Further inspection showed that the tree had rot in a number of areas, and could be subject to falling in a windstorm.  Thirty foot high, the tree stands only 15 feet from my house.  And so, with much care, the tree was cut down by my lawn guy and a neighbor, who took the logs for his fireplace.  There remains a stump to cut down and dug out at some point, but a disaster was avoided.  Losing the tree after 40 years is bad news, but if it had fallen on the house, it would have been much worse.  I’m not sure what I’ll do about that spot; it’s an opportunity God gave me to show more of His blessings, perhaps with flowers, or maybe a statue of Mary.

Also, this past week, I was stopped by a police car.  My first ticket in 30 years!  The truck in front of me had paused at a stop sign and then quickly accelerated into a right turn, as if there were only a narrow gap in traffic.  So, I was also intent on getting into any gap in cross traffic, and so as I reached the stop sign, I glanced to the left as I was beginning to accelerate --- and was surprised to see no oncoming traffic.  And then looking ahead where I was going, I saw the police car on the shoulder as I passed it.  It didn’t remain on the shoulder, but quickly lit up and I pulled over.  “You didn’t come to a complete stop at the stop sign,” the officer said.  I had an inkling to justify myself by the actions of the truck in front of me, and ask why he wasn’t pulled over, but I kept quiet.  “Driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance, please” he said.  In passing I mentioned “I was just coming home from church.”  As I began getting the papers out of my wallet and glove box, I began to mumble to myself: “First ticket in 30 years.  It’s just the way this week is going.  I injured my hand, then my foot was diagnosed with some disease.  It’s just been a bad week.”  I really wasn’t talking to the cop, yet he said: “I won’t write you a ticket.”  I was too shocked to say thank you!  In my glove box, however, there were lots of older papers, but no current proof of insurance card.  This time I did speak to the cop: “I don’t understand; everything they mail me I put in the glove box without thinking, and I know I have insurance because I see the billing each month.”  I toss the cards in the glove box without thinking also, he said, and he went back to his car.  He came back and said: “Yes, you have insurance,” as he handed me my other papers. “Have a good day --- and come to complete stops at stop signs.”  And then I DID say: “Thank you, officer.  God bless your day.”  And driving home I realized that was 2 tickets I could have/should have gotten.  And I said “Thank you, Lord.”  All the bad things of my life were on my mind this week, but He showed me that He also makes good things happen.  We just need to trust.

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I  am supposed to visit a friend this afternoon.  She is in the final stages of cancer.  We plan a day at a time, and she takes extra pain pills, and then we talk and pray for a couple of hours, before she says “I think it’s time for you go.”  She is living her pain willingly --- she skipped any chemo treatments --- but she doesn’t want me to see her when the pain is worst.  She was the one I took to the adoration chapel a few weeks ago, and who cried greatly afterward, saying: “I can’t believe how much He loves us.”

She just called me and cancelled our meeting today.  “Tom, don’t come over.  I’ve called my son,” she said weakly and in obvious pain.  “I’ll try to call you later.”

He makes all things good for those who trust in Him.  She trusts in Him so much, perhaps more than anyone I know.  The good things I wrote of earlier were reminders to trust.  So is this woman’s faith.