God will never abandon us

The WORD in Other Words by Fr Sammuel Clarin SVD (Philippines)

Friday 5th Week in Ordinary Time

There are moments when we think that God is so distant and we feel that we have   no one to turn to. Such situations as death of a loved one, a break up of a relationship,   financial crisis, meeting a vehicular accident, unable to pass an examination despite the hard work, natural calamities that destroy one‘s hard earned property, experiencing   a terminal illness despite one‘s religiosity and the like. 

When faced with these, we   easily get discouraged. We fail to remember the words of Jesus: “Come to me, all   you who labor and are heavily laden and I will give you rest…” (Matthew 11: 28—30).   

In today‘s Gospel, Jesus restored the deaf-mute man’s sense of hearing and speaking. Perhaps, this man had been suffering for so long. Yet he had been hopeful that one day he would be cured. 

God’s goodness and love can be manifested through the people who showed concern for this suffering person by bringing him in front of  Jesus and begging Him to cure the suffering man. Intercessory prayer is so important in our Christian community. 

Just as Jesus heard the cry of these people may we have also the firm faith that God really does not abandon His people. God even walks with us in moments of temptation. He even wants to save us no matter how dark the situation we think may be. 

Indeed, His yoke is easy, His burden light if we only turn to Him and not rely on our own capacity. His grace is more abundant than our human   weakness as St. Paul says.