Today's readings speak to us about the nature of God's relationship with us. In the book of Amos, God reminds us that He does not act arbitrarily or capriciously. He is a God who reveals His plans to His prophets, and He does not do anything without a purpose.
In our lives, we often feel like we are caught in a storm, buffeted by the winds of adversity and struggling to stay afloat. We may wonder why God is allowing this to happen to us, or why He seems to be silent in the face of our suffering. But today's readings remind us that God is always at work, even when we cannot see Him.
The prophet Amos reminds us that God is not a God who acts without warning. He is a God who speaks through His prophets, who gives us signs and warnings of what is to come. And yet, even with these warnings, we often fail to respond as we should. How many times does it happen in our lives, where we get wake up call after another, we repent and change our ways for a little while, and then gradually slide back down the slippery slope of temptation into the pit of our old habits? Do we not get the inclining that we are still not managing to get something right? I think to myself, “I am not a saint yet, because I have not truly dedicated myself to prayer, to good works, and especially to caring for the poor in some way!” We intuit that we lack the strength to do what we know is right, because often times, we are depending on our own abilities and goodness, over and above what God can do, and his goodness in working through us. We forget that God is in control, and seek constantly to be in control ourselves. We forget that there are things that are beyond our reach, beyond our limits, beyond the realm of possibility for us. But what is impossible for us, is not so for the Lord.
In the gospel reading, Jesus calms the storm on the lake, revealing His power and authority over creation. But before He does so, He asks His disciples why they are so frightened. They are men of little faith, and they are struggling to trust in God's goodness and sovereignty.
As we reflect on these readings today, I want to ask you: what is your response to the storms of life? Do you trust in God's goodness and sovereignty, even when things seem uncertain and chaotic? Or do you find yourself worrying and fretting, wondering why God is allowing this to happen?
God spoke to his prophets, but let us remember, that we were baptised into Christ, and thus into his triple office of King, Prophet, and Priest. We have all been given a prophetic charism, as those to whom God speaks, and those whom God expects to be his witnesses in the world. Let us take a page from the book of Amos and remember that God is a God who reveals His plans to His prophets. Let us ask for wisdom and discernment in these uncertain times, and let us trust that God is always at work, even when we cannot see Him. And let us prioritize.
It is true that we are surrounded by evil, yet let us not forget the good. Yet what surrounds us ought to take second place to what is inside of us. That is, my outlook on the world, how to navigate these perilous times, and the windy storms and chaotic waves of my life, will only be clear once I focus on allowing the Lord to calm the storms within my soul. This is why when we struggle with particular sins, we intuit we are still yet missing the mark on something—that something is prayer.
Let us always remember that Jesus is our Rock, our Refuge, and our Savior. He has power over the winds and the sea, and He has power over our lives as well. Our Lady, Queen of Heaven and Earth, pray for us who have recourse to Thee. Amen.
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