The Friar Podcasts - preaching prayer and spiritual reflections

God has a plan. In our world, it can feel like all is chaotic. It can seem that there is simply too much evil going on in our world for it to make any sense. But the truth is that God has a plan for us, that will accomplish his will even if we cannot see how. There is a lot of instances where the evil we experience can seem too overwhelming, too harsh, too, well, evil. But whatever happens, we need not experience this alone. This is the lesson Mary teaches us today.

One of the most difficult, if not the most difficult question of faith is any question that wrestles with the problem of God and evil. If I love God, why do bad things happen? In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah must have thought of this question in the mud at the bottom of a cistern. Jesus tells us that following him might lead to division rather than peace.

Look at any educational institution today and I suspect you will find the word innovation. Businesses are all focused on innovation. In fact, it is tossed around so much that we would find it harder not to see the word innovation. True innovation is the result of the work by a genius, and it's real power is in doing something that is not only innovative, but is also designed to last.

When I was a kid, I was often too impatient to wait until the end of the book to see what would happen, so I would skip to the end of the book first, then go back and read the book knowing how it would turn out. The book of Revelation is really a text designed for those who like skipping to the end to find out what is going to happen. The beauty of our spiritual life is that we know how things will turn out.

How do we learn to follow God? Does it mean an easy life? Does it mean always being challenged? What does it mean to pray? For Abraham and Mary, it was hospitality. For Martha it was being busy about the things to be hospitable. But she forgot that in following Jesus, it is always and everywhere about Jesus.

Time and again God has demonstrated his power, love and kindness to the people of Israel. Yet time and again, the people are only able to follow God for so long before this or that human concern is a problem. We're hungry. We're thirsty. Are we there yet? You know the routine. Moses reminds the people the Law is not so hard. In fact, it is quite close to the people, even in our hearts. And yet, the law is not so hard. At the heart of the Law is love, the love of God which helps us to love him and our neighbor.

Has anyone ever told you to be grateful for the things that do not go well? When things are at their worst, can you find yourself thanking God for the struggles in life? That hardly seems like something we should do, but there is all kinds of research that tells us that life is better when we are grateful. The eucharist is the ultimate prayer of thanks. Make it more a part of your life and your prayer.

Wow! Have you had an experience where something amazing happened that was really a moment of pure joy? Such an event can change our entire lives. The Amazing Power of Unexpected Joy can really change everything. Think of those amazing events. The birth of a child. A wedding day. The purchase of the first house. Knowing that God has called us to something wonderful.

What parent does not get quite excited the first time they hear their infant son or daughter say a word? And how much more excited does a parent get when they hear their role (mama) or their name? The power of words. That is what is really amazing. We can communicate. And not only with other humans, but with God as well. In what way does your prayer show the power of God's word?

Today's first reading recounts a not so successful preaching for Paul, Silas, and Barnabas. Eventually they move on. How do we know when this is the right decision? I wish I had the answer, But I do know how to find the answer: the Holy Spirit. https://thefriar.org/2022/05/26/when-is-it-time-to-move-on-may-26-2022/ #thefriar #whentomoveon #timeforanewjob #HowdoIknow