Answer Me Lord June 14

Piety

Jesus, how long will we straddle the issues which you have given us before we consistently choose life? Abortion. War. Economic Justice. Death Penalty. Immigration. Instead of insisting that you send us another sign, help us to receive your instructions and do as you command us without questioning and rationalization.

Answer our prayers, Lord, so that we can lead others to friendship with you without the doubts that troubled Thomas but with total obedience in faith. Lead us to believe that you dwell within us.

Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/061406.shtml
“Answer me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God and that you have brought them back to their senses.” 1 Kings 18:37

Sometimes we never know why we face certain tasks and what role these duties play in our journey of faith. Take the people listening to Elijah today. Three times does Elijah command them to fill four jars with water. They do so without questioning him just as the wine steward fills the stone jars at the wedding at Cana.

The turning the water into wine at Cana was a sign that showed the power of God and led people who witnessed that transformation to begin to have faith in Jesus. The offering of Elijah was transformed by the fire of the Lord into a sign that led the people to believe.

All because someone filled a few jars with water…a simple act that led to a very awesome result.

Action

As recently quoted by Catholic News Service, Retired Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, formerly head of the Archdiocese of Houston, said, “There was a time when growing up, I never thought of the death penalty ... but in time, I've come to see in reflecting upon the reverence and the sacredness of all human life, that this doesn't make any sense being for the death penalty. If God is the author of all life, and God has sovereignty over life, then God doesn't give up this sovereignty when someone is convicted of a horrible crime.”

Is there an issue for you, where you differ from the church’s teachings? Or is there an issue which has not grabbed your attention to think like the church teaches?

Take Elijah’s directive. Fill four jars with water and pray that the Lord send you a sign that will strengthen you in faith.

Leave a comment letting me know if you would like to pick a day soon to offer the daily reflection.