Saturday June 8, 2024

“Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he said to them. (Luke 2:49-50)

Good News Reflection for:

Saturday of the 9th Week in Ordinary Time
June 8, 2024

Today’s Readings:

Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary
2 Timothy 4:1-8
Ps 71:8-9,14-17,22
Luke 2:41-51
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings//060824.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-june-8-2024

What are you looking for?

What is it that you’re seeking from God? Do you know that, if it’s good and God doesn’t have a better plan, you already have what you seek? It often takes time for it to be revealed and understood, but God has already granted the miracle to you.

Most of us don’t have the level of faith that makes waiting for the answers to our prayers a joyful, peaceful time. That’s because we don’t fully trust God.

During my young adult years, after a major conversion experience in which I recommitted myself to Christ, people told me about miracles they received. However, when I prayed for miracles, nothing happened. “It must be me,” I thought. “Something’s wrong with my faith.” I was so sure of this that when others came together to pray for anything amazing, I left the room afraid that my lack of faith would prevent them from receiving what they asked from God.

Determined to find my way into a faith that works miracles, I immersed myself in scripture studies, prayer groups, parish events, and anything else that seemed faith-building. Many good fruits came from this daily effort, including a few answered prayers, but not enough. Faith had to be better than this!

Deep down, when we try and try but fail to have the kind of faith that gets results from our prayer requests, we blame God. He is, after, all, way more powerful than we are. He can make miracles happen despite our weak faith and doubts.

When my husband Ralph became home-bound with ulcerative colitis, people all around the  world prayed for a miracle of healing. When he got worse and his colon was removed, countless people prayed for his recovery. When he died from the weakened condition of his body, lots of people were surprised.

Unanswered prayers raise terrible questions, such as: Has God abandoned me? Is he ignoring me? Does he care about others more than he cares about me? But after the initial shock of Ralph’s death wore off, I began to ask: “What, Lord, do you want me to do with my life now, which I wouldn’t have done if Ralph were still here with me?”

I knew that Ralph was totally healed. I knew that he was better off than I am, and frankly I was a bit jealous that he got to go Home while I’m stuck in this difficult world. And I knew that God was in charge of the timing. God had a wonderful reason for taking Ralph when he did — a better plan than what everyone had been praying for. Although I miss Ralph terribly, I trust God’s plan (whatever it is), thanks to something God showed me many years ago.

About 40 years ago, I felt ignored by God. While crying about it, an image of a cardboard box came to mind. It wasn’t a very big box — about the size of a microwave oven. I wondered what might be in it.

“You’ve put Me in a box,” I heard in my own inner voice, but I knew it was not my voice. “You’ve been limiting Me. You see me as less than I Am. Open the box and let Me out.”

Gladly! I visualized the lid of the box open up and imagined God escaping from it and expanding larger and larger until he filled the universe.

This began my journey of unpacking who God really is and what he is really like — God as a loving, doting, perfect Father who desires more than I do for my prayers to be answered. God as the infinite, unlimited Father. God as the Father who solves my problems and lifts me up above them.

And this journey is why I wrote the series of books on “The Father’s Heart“. The first one is called “Meet the Real Abba Father: 10 Spiritual Exercises to Heal from the Wounds of the Heart”. It’s formatted as a workbook that you can write in, and it will be available very soon. I’m honored to have the foreword written by Bear Wozniak of EWTN TV and radio.

© 2024 by Terry A. Modica

Find out more about the workbook series on “The Father’s Heart” at 30daystothefathersheart.com.

Pray the Litany of the Father’s Heart at gnm.org/prayers/the-litany-of-the-fathers-heart,

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