01/09/2024
HOLD ON TO THE LORD
By Fr. Jerry Orbos, SVD
The story is told about a man who had his eye checked. No matter how the optometrist adjusted the lenses to get the right grade for his eyeglasses, the man kept saying, “I can’t read.” Exasperated, the optometrist asked him, “Why can’t you read the letters and numbers in the chart?” “It’s simply because I don’t know how to read,” the man replied.
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In today’s Gospel (John 6:60-69), Jesus is exasperated because the crowd cannot “read” His mind. He had taken great lengths to explain that His flesh is food and that His blood is drink for eternal life, but still, many of them doubt, murmur, or altogether abandon Him. When we cannot “read” or understand the problems and mysteries in our lives, do we hold on to God, or do we turn our backs on Him?
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“This saying is hard; who can accept it?” There are moments in life when we cannot explain or understand what is happening. At such moments, may we be given the gift of faith that enables us to say: Lord, I don’t understand, but I believe in You, and I trust in You, and I will not leave You. Lord, give me the grace to read what You are saying to me, especially in difficult moments of my journey. Amen.
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Here are some Bible passages that tell us why we should trust in the Lord: “Fear not for l have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1); “Because you are precious to me and honored, I love you” (Isaiah 43:4); “Even the hairs of your head have been numbered, so there is no need to be afraid of anything” (Matthew 10:30); “The mountains may depart, and the hills will be shaken, but my steadfast love for you will never end” (Isaiah 54:10); “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord; plans for welfare, not for woe, plans to give you a future full of hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
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When we come face to face with God someday, may we be able to say, “Lord, there were many things I could not understand in my life, but I held on to You and just trusted in You.” What a joy for us if we could say something like that to the Lord somehow. What a shame for us if we realize then that we did not trust, or hardly trusted Him. It is our choice to believe or to doubt, to stay with the Lord, or to leave.
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Sharing with you this prayer of faith and trust in the Lord, especially when we cannot “read” what is happening in our lives. “Lord, I may not understand how things will work out, but I trust in You. I don’t see a way, but I know You will make a way. I have faith that at this moment, You are touching hearts, opening doors, and lining up the right breaks and opportunities. Things may look dark, but I have faith that my dawn is coming. Amen.”
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Last Aug. 22, we celebrated the Queenship of Mary. We look up to her as our Queen, Mother, and Model of true discipleship and complete trust in the divine will and plan. There were many moments in her life when she could not “read,” understand and decipher what was going on, but she believed and kept on believing. Like Mama Mary, may we see God’s hand and God’s presence and assurance in everything that is happening in our lives.
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You may have experienced reading in a chat group ”(name left)” and often wonder why. There are many reasons why people leave. Who are we to judge? But may it never be said of us that “______ left” and abandoned our Lord and Master. Yes, hold on to Him, no matter what. Kapit-tuko to the Lord!
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For those who hold on and follow the Lord, no matter what, listen to the Lord’s assurance and promise: “No harm will happen to you, and no misfortune will come to your home. Because He will command His angels over you to protect you always.” (Psalm 91:10-11)
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Weak and wounded as we are, let us continue to pray this prayer as we follow the Lord each day: “Heavenly Father, I look up to Thee to enlighten what is dark in me, to strengthen what is bruised in me, to heal what is sick in me, and to revive whatever peace and love that has died in me. Amen.”
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A moment with the Lord.
Lord, please help me to cling to You and to hold on to Your love that’s true. Amen.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
