“I Shall Be With You” by Melanie Rigney (@melanierigney)

https://www.pexels.com/photo/who-me-896976/  (By Terry)

“I Shall Be With You” by Melanie Rigney (@melanierigney)

Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church

The LORD turned to him and said, "Go with the strength you have and save Israel from the power of Midian. It is I who send you." But Gideon answered him, "Please, my lord, how can I save Israel? My family is the lowliest in Manasseh, and I am the most insignificant in my father's house." "I shall be with you," the LORD said to him, "and you will cut down Midian to the last man." (Judges 6:14-16)

The Lord speaks of peace to his people. (Psalm 85:9b)

“And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for the sake of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first." (Matthew 19:29-30)

Piety

Lord, without You, I am nothing. With You, I know I can do whatever You desire.

Study

Who, you?

• You’re tooling along in your leadership role in education, and all of a sudden you feel a nudging to start ministering to unwed mothers.
• You’re a great project manager and you love the work and the money, and all of a sudden your pastor asks if you’d consider taking a position with the parish that would mean a whole lot less money and even more hours.
• You’ve never had a single course in religion or theology, and all of a sudden someone asks if you’d help with his daily spiritual reflection blog.

Why is it that sometimes, the easiest no to say is the one that involves God? Even though He knows us better than we know ourselves, we don’t think we’re the right person for His job. Ask someone else, we say; so many people are better qualified.

And in fact, that may be the case. But God is calling them to something else. You’re the only one who can be you, and you are who he needs for this particular assignment.

Who, you?

Action

Stop discerning and protesting. Take a step toward doing what the Lord wants. He knows what that is, and so do you if you stop and listen.