This crazy weather reminds me of a joke I heard recently about a man who gets stuck in a storm.
The rain is pounding on his windows so hard it looks like his house is going to flood. So he gets down on his knees and begins to pray, “God save me!”
Then, he hears a gentle whisper, “Fear not! I will save you!”
The rain continues.
Suddenly, his neighbors drive by offering to save him. But he says to them, “No, God is going to save me!”
The rain continues.
Then, the water starts pouring into the first floor of his home, so he moves up to the second floor, where he continues to pray, “God, save me!”
The fire department comes and lays a ladder against his bedroom window, offering to save him. But he says again, “No, God is going to save me!”
The rain continues.
Finally, he makes his way to the roof. The Coast Guard comes with a helicopter, drops a ladder down to him, offering to save him. But, he replies once again, “No! GOD is going to save me!”
So he drowns.
When he gets to heaven, he says to God, “Where were you? You said you were going to save me!” … God looks at him and says, “I did try to save you! I sent your neighbors, the fire department, and the US Coast Guard!”
***
We can easily laugh at this man’s foolishness, but the truth is we are God’s hands and feet in the world; God works through us to accomplish his will.
And today we hear one of his deepest desires for us through the prayer of Jesus, “…that they may be one as we are one” (John 17:22). God desires a world where we live in peace.
Maybe that’s why he gives us moms, because moms want nothing more than peace in their homes, just like Jesus.
That was certainly true for me growing up.
I remember how sad Mom would be when my brother and I argued over petty things like who would sit in the front seat of the car, whether the shirt I was wearing that day was his, or whether or not I could hang out with his friends.
Mom wanted us to spend our time laughing at the dinner table, paging through photo albums she made for us, or walking together along a white sandy beach on those occasional family vacations.
When my brother and I were at peace, Mom was at peace. As she often said to us, “Seeing the two of you happy together does a Mamma’s heart good.”
***
Mom passed away four years ago. She’s no longer able to urge my brother and me to get along; rather, we must put that effort in ourselves. But she taught us an important lesson: the closer we are, the happier we will be.
The truth is we’re all called to work for deeper unity in our families, because family is God’s gift to us! They are the ones who love us first in the world.
So how can we strengthen our family bonds?
***
And secondly, how can we work for greater peace in our world?
God wants us to be “one” in mind and heart. He hates division and conflict, just like moms do.
Think about how sad God must be when he gazes upon the homebound who feel forgotten, families fighting, young people struggling with addictions, and people begging for bread on our streets.
God is not blind to their needs. He wants to help them!
But he reaches them through us. Remember the man standing on his roof, waiting for God to act. God was not blind to his need! He sent his neighbors, the fire department, and the US Coast Guard to help him.
In the same way, God sends us to bring peace to the world, and to answer peoples’ prayers. Are we willing to act on his behalf?
***
If so, then how might we do that this week? Let’s keep our eyes open and find out.
as I sat in Mass last, I was thinking about what your message would be today. Thank you,it’s perfect.
as I sat in Mass last night, I thought about what your message would be. Perfect.
Beautiful photo! 🙂