Why is it so easy for some to leave the church? There are many reasons, but one is because they don’t know about the awesomeness of God. If they only knew what spiritual treasures He offers and how He invites us to share in His glory and to reap the benefits.
Think on today’s Reading, “In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth… God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light… God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’”
No human is capable of doing what God does. We can never climb to his heights above the clouds nor should we. Yet, God can bestow on us many gifts and talents to design wonderful innovations and life-saving inventions. God sprinkles upon us lights of insight, new thought, fresh wisdom, and the great potential to love one another. He created a loving universe and those who know this are eager to receive His blessings.
Today’s Gospel states: “Whatever villages or towns or countryside [Jesus] entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.” Jesus does heal. But healing can’t be predicted or invoked like a magic band aid. It’s by the strength of our faith that we continue to pray, hope, and then wait on Him. We have time on this earth to anticipate good things. We can hope to be restored and renewed as we spiritually touch the hem of His garment.
St. Scholastica was well-aware of the immensity of God’s might. And she knew to call upon His help, even for the simplest of matters, such as, if she just didn’t want her brother, Benedict, to go home. One night, she was having a nice conversation with Benedict but he told her had to leave to go back to his monastery. Even though she kept asking him to stay longer, he insisted that he had to go. Frustrated, she pleaded with God to make him stay. As Benedict was approaching the door, a very violent storm sprung up, and the torrential downpour left him no alternative but to stay with Scholastica. Benedict couldn’t deny Scholastica’s great love, her immense faith and how God loved her back. He said, “Almighty God forgive you, sister. What have you done?” Scholastica answered, “Well, I asked you and you would not listen; so I asked my God and he did listen.”
God is amazing and even our simplest desires are important to Him. It can’t hurt to pray for our trivial needs or wants because we are asking it of a loving God who created the sky and the stars and everything else that we love dearly. And He loves you dearly. Never leave Him.
¿Por qué es tan fácil para algunos abandonar la iglesia? Hay muchas razones, pero una de ellas es que no conocen la grandeza de Dios. Si tan solo supieran qué tesoros espirituales ofrece y cómo nos invita a compartir su gloria y cosechar sus beneficios.
Piensa en la lectura de hoy: “En el principio creó Dios el cielo y la tierra… dijo Dios: ‘Que exista la luz’, y la luz existió’… Llamó a la luz ‘día’, y a las tinieblas ‘noche’”.
Ningún ser humano es capaz de hacer lo que Dios hace. Nunca podremos llegar a sus alturas por encima de las nubes ni deberíamos hacerlo. Sin embargo, Dios puede otorgarnos muchos dones y talentos para diseñar innovaciones maravillosas e inventos que salvan vidas. Dios derrama sobre nosotros luces de comprensión, nuevos pensamientos, sabiduría fresca y el gran potencial de amarnos unos a otros. Creó un universo lleno de amor y quienes lo saben están ansiosos de recibir sus bendiciones.
El Evangelio de hoy dice: “A dondequiera que llegaba, en los poblados, ciudades o caseríos, la gente le ponía a sus enfermos en la calle y le rogaba que por lo menos los dejara tocar la punta de su manto; y cuantos lo tocaban, quedaban curados”. Jesús sana, pero la sanación no se puede predecir ni invocar como una curita mágica. Es por la fuerza de la fe que seguimos rezando, teniendo esperanza y esperando en Él. Tenemos tiempo en esta tierra para anticipar cosas buenas. Podemos tener la esperanza de ser restaurados y renovados al tocar espiritualmente la punta de Su manto.
Santa Escolástica era muy consciente de la inmensidad del poder de Dios. Y sabía pedirle ayuda, incluso para los asuntos más sencillos, como, por ejemplo, si no quería que su hermano, Benito, volviera a casa. Una noche, estaba conversando muy agusto con Benito, pero él le dijo que tenía que irse para regresar a su monasterio. Aunque ella seguía pidiéndole que se quedara más tiempo, él insistió en que tenía que irse. Frustrada, Escolástica le suplicó a Dios que lo hiciera quedarse. Cuando Benito se acercaba a la puerta, se desató una tormenta muy violenta y el aguacero torrencial no le dejó otra alternativa que quedarse con su hermana. Benito no podía negar el gran amor de Escolástica, su inmensa fe y cómo Dios la amaba. Le dijo: “Que Dios Todopoderoso te perdone, hermana. ¿Qué has hecho?” Escolástica respondió: “Bueno, te pedí que te quedaras y no me hiciste caso; así que le pedí a mi Dios y él sí me atendió”.
Dios es asombroso e incluso nuestros deseos más sencillos son importantes para Él. No hace daño rezar incluso por las necesidades o deseos triviales porque se lo estamos pidiendo a un Dios amoroso que creó el cielo y las estrellas y todo lo que amamos profundamente. Y Él te ama profundamente. Nunca lo abandones.
Christine Arata is a San Francisco, California native. She lives a few blocks away from the ocean and a park. She finds nature inspiring. Her cat brings her comfort. She loves being creative not only with her writing but with almost everything, including her home cooking. Her studies in the Catholic faith are ongoing. In 2019, when she discovered St. Hildegard of Bingen was underrepresented by Catholics, she found a purpose. Her latest website, St. Hildegard’s Wisdom features blog posts about all of that: https://sthildegardswisdom.com
Feature Image Credit: Alexander Andrews, unsplash.com/photos/brown-house-under-stary-night–Bq3TeSBRdE
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
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