Have you ever found yourself discouraged and frustrated by the bad news which is all around us? I have. It is so easy to look at the Godless way in which many people live, govern, and conduct their lives. And we don’t have to look too far. Even among the members of our Church we
can find elements of dissatisfaction. Have you always been pleased with the way your priests have spoken or behaved? What about our Bishops? Our Popes? Don’t get me wrong, I am not insinuating any kind of rebelliousness towards the hierarchy of the Church, but I am hoping to address the reality of dissatisfaction in our lives. It exists, and we must be honest about it. Once we acknowledge this reality though, what next? I believe that it is very important for us to ask the right questions. So, in the midst of our dissatisfaction with others, our question should not be “what is God asking them to do”, but rather, “what is God asking me to do”? Focusing on the wrong actions of others will only be beneficial to us if we make it personal and allow these to be lessons for our own life of faith. Even in the midst of darkness and sin God is present. God never abandons us. The question to consider in our daily prayer is “Lord, what do you want me to do? How do you want me to live? Where can I make your presence known?” Remember how many people were moved towards God by single individuals who lived the answer to these questions in their own lives, people like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta, St. John Vianney, St. Catherine of Sienna, etc. The goodness of God and the beauty of His Church can be revealed through you - through me, through individuals who desire to live for God.
