…He refreshes my soul…

Today’s readings contain some of the most reassuring verses I’ve ever known…and perhaps they’re meant for times like these. We’ve seen politics, COVID, unemployment and uncertainty about the future erode faith and trust in God – and even cause divisions within families. Simple solutions to this sort of distress aren’t easy to come by; for a healthy perspective we need to look deeper inside our hearts, our faith and our history as a People.

The Hebrew scripture for today tells the story of how our spiritual ancestors discovered God when, as they identified the fears that alienated them from each other, they realized that God could – and would – end the distress. Isaiah writes, “On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from every face; the reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth, for the Lord has spoken.” And the Psalmist wrote these reassuring words, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul.”

St. Paul explained the source of his strength: “Brothers and sisters, I know how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I can do all things in Him who strengthens me. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress. My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Simply said, we are being transformed into a People who will always be discovering more about God’s love. We have an increasing ability to speak with confidence about God’s goodness. Can we do this alone? I’m not sure that we can. We’re still like our spiritual ancestors who feel loneliness, anger and sorrow in many ways. We’re still dependent on each other – and our Shepherd – to keep us safe and lead us home. We have, thanks be to God, received many gifts as a community to share with friends and strangers alike. Possibly the best gifts are our ever-growing compassion and love for people who suffer. And we know, in our deepest hearts, that God’s love will provide the strength we need for all else that may come our way.

Blessings,

Dorothy Hathway, OCDS