Relationship with God

The following reflection is based on the readings for the Friday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time and can be found at http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/111519.cfm

“Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses it will save it.” Luke 17:33

In our gospel for today Jesus is talking about relationship with God, to always have God in the center of our life and to turn away from our sinful ways. He points out two familiar stories from the Old Testament: that of Noah and that of Lot. The people in Noah’s time and Lot’s time, like today, were self-absorbed in their lives and had turned away from God. In Noah’s day he warned them to turn from their selfish ways, but they continued eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day of the flood. They completely ignored the warnings of Noah to turn from their sinful ways and to turn to God. Same with the people in Sodom during the time of Lot. They were so involved in their sinful activities that they had no desire for God and so they continued to live out their sinful lives. As a result, both the people in Noah’s time and in Lot’s time, God punished them for their sinfulness.

Our Lord is encouraging us today to have him in the center of all we do. To turn away from whatever sins we may cling to and to turn to Him to seek forgiveness and healing.

Further, our lives can be so busy and full of worry about our family, children, friends, or even our finances. Listening to bad news on the TV news, worrying about our health, worrying about what can go wrong in our families. These are things that can bring us away from God.

Our Lord in today’s Gospel is telling us to let go of our sinfulness, worries and cares. This is the life that he wants us to lose, and by losing it and turning to the Lord we will save it in the sense that Jesus will bring us that peace and calm that can only come from him.

One way to let go of our sinfulness and worries is to turn to Our Lord in the sacrament of confession. By turning to God in the sacrament of confession, we are placing all our sinfulness, cares and worries in God’s hands and are receiving healing, peace and forgiveness.

Lord, help us to rest in your presence today. Help us to let go of fear and doubt and to trust in your love for us. Amen.