From the Deacon's Desk

Each day, I reflect upon a word or a phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer.

“Cursed is the one whose heart turns away from the Lord. Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord.” (Jeremiah 17:5-10)

TRUST AND HOPE: Life can sometimes give us challenges that are difficult to navigate on our own. The most important thing any person can remember when struggling is that God loves them and is walking with them.

When we are feeling hopeless, we must cling to our faith traditions – attendance at Mass, prayer, reflection, service, and other stabilizing rituals and routines:

*At Mass, we are presented with opportunities to connect with others, to check in with each other and to offer support.

*By continuing an active prayer life, we keep our connection to God alive, even if it is sharing the struggles we are currently facing. We should continue to talk about God and be attentive to his active presence in our lives. We should be intentional in our gratitude – doing so may lead to the discovery that our blessings far outnumber our struggles.

*Our reflection can lead us to recall other tough times that God helped us through, giving us hope He will be there for us once again.

*Finally, when we serve others, we make a difference in their lives, which can improve our mood and make us feel better able to address our own problems.

This is all positive and hopeful language, but if “keeping our faith strong” is our only resource, we might run into a roadblock. Unfortunately, it is often when we are experiencing sadness or depression that we fail to feel that loving presence of God. Not only do we withdraw from family and friends, we tend to withdraw from God, and our faith, as well.

That is where we – members of the Body of Christ – come in. It is our shared responsibility to keep the flame of faith alive in the hearts of others. We need to be the face of Christ for them and plant seeds of hope.