When you cry to God for help, do you focus only on what you do not have? Do you look at what you have and place them for God’s anointing? - Daily Reflections October 20,2013

CRY FOR HELP

 

I once saw a photo of a man holding aloft, with one hand, a grand piano, to the amusement of onlookers. Later, they discovered that the piano was tied to an invisible cord from above. It was a trick to amuse people in the park but there is a certain level of truth in that picture. We become strong when we attach ourselves to an invisible source from above. Today’s Responsorial Psalm summed it: “Our help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

       In today’s First Reading, Israel was in battle with Amalek and his soldiers. Moses asked for help from the Lord. Help came in the form of a staff that Moses had to hold in his hands and keep aloft during battle. When Moses’ hands grew tired, all he needed was another pair of hands (those of Aaron and Hur) to support his arms as Joshua engaged in battle.

       When David faced Goliath, he asked for help from the God of Israel. All he had were five stones and a slingshot. Placed in the service of God and anointed by Him, he downed the giant Goliath.

       Samson faced thousands of heavily armed Philistines. He asked for help from God and the help came in the form of a jawbone of a donkey he found lying on the ground. It was something very ordinary, but with God’s anointing, Samson defeated the enemy of thousands.

       What do all these tell us? First, when we ask help from the Lord, let us not expect something extraordinary. Most of the time, God uses the natural — a staff, a stone, a jawbone — to achieve something supernatural. Blessed Mother Teresa said, “Be ready to do the ordinary and God will do the extraordinary.” Second, God is God not to rocking-chair Christians who pray and then sit down on their rocking chair, waiting for the blessings to fall on their laps. God is God to blue-jeans Christians who are willing to roll up their sleeves, dirty their clothes and work with God’s anointing.

       So, the next time you are in trouble, ask God for help. But remember, too, that when you need a hand, there’s always one at the end of your own arms. Fr. Joel O. Jason

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: When you cry to God for help, do you focus only on what you do not have? Do you look at what you have and place them for God’s anointing?

 

Lord Jesus, I will pray as if everything depended on You and I will also work as if everything depended on me. Amen.