767 ELM STREET * ROCKY HILL * CONNECTICUT 06067
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767 ELM STREET * ROCKY HILL * CONNECTICUT 06067 |
           
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Joseph was a man of faith, a man who trusted in the Lord despite his own inner doubts and puzzlement. He had to trust in circumstances that were vexing at best and scandalous at worst! But the life of faith can be like that at times. We are often asked to trust in the Lord without proof that this trust will result is anything that makes sense at the time. Yet, it is in the act of trust, of surrendering to the Lord without proof that it will all make sense, that a person comes closest to certainty of the reality of God and comes to the belief of the eternal life God promises us in serving others. In this we discover that God is with us. This is reflected quite powerfully in the novel of the 19th century Russian writer, Fydor Dostoyevsky in his novel, The Brothers Karamozov. In that great novel a woman plagued by doubt about God and life eternal goes to see a Fr. Zossima. She implores him to give her proof that faith is real and not in vain with nothing but weeds growing on her grave after death. He answers: But there is no proving it, though you can be convinced of it. By the experience of active love. Strive to love your neighbor actively and unceasingly. In so far as you advance in love you will grow surer of the reality of God and the immortality of your soul. If you attain perfect self-forgetfulness in the love of your neighbor then you will believe without doubt, and no doubt can possibly enter your soul. This has been tried. This is certain. Joseph in Matthew, and Mary in Luke become models for our faith response to God. Despite their doubts, they did the will of God. Yes, we will have questions. Yes, sometimes things do not make sense or do not seem to work in this world. But the act of faith, renewed each day, and each moment, leads us to a level of closeness with God that opens us up to the things that God wants for us in life and of a greater certainty of the reality of God in our lives. Such faith allows one to see life in its transparency. We see what is real; what life is all about and begin to experience that inner peace that give us balance in the most distressing times of our lives, as well as, magnifying the joys of this life! This faith is possible because of the continued nearness and prompting of God. Always, God is here, there, in the now and in the future. In Jesus, God comes to us in a special way in the midst of human history in the form of vulnerable child. In this child we understand that God knows what it is like to be one of us; how hard life can be and how frail we are. God also knows how often we do not listen to his Word that is given to us to help build a world of life and love. This reminds of the story of a man sitting at his fireplace one stormy and snowy December evening. He mused to himself, “This stuff about God being incarnated in a child is rubbish. What kind of a God would want to be incarnated in such a slaughterhouse of a world-preposterous!” Then he heard a great commotion going on outside in the middle of the storm. There was a flock of geese running about, slamming into each other in the storm. He tried to steer the geese into his barn to get them to safety. But the more he yelled at them the more confused they became. Finally, he thought to himself, “If only I could become one of them I could communicate to them so that they could find their way to safety and know that I wish only for their happiness and security.” Then he stopped, thought of the child in a manger, smiled and understood-Emmanuel, God with us. Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D.Min. Return to Saint James Home Page |