Disturbing words by Amos in the first reading and a violent storm in the gospel while the apostles where crossing the lake with Jesus asleep remind us dear God our loving Father of the inevitable "meeting with you".
Who would not be shaken with the words of Amos threatening:
Does a lion roar in the f0rest when it has no prey? Does a young lion cry out from its den unless it has seized something? Is a bird brought to earth by a snare when there is no lure for it? Does a snare spring up from the ground without catching anything? If the trumpet sounds in a city, will the people not be frightened ? If evil befalls a city, has not the Lord caused it? So now I will deal with you in my own way, O Israel! And since I will deal thus with you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel.
Amos 3;4-6, 4:12
Forgive us, Lord, for being complacent in knowing you, feeling one with you even if our lives are far from your teachings that we neither see your nor are you seen in us or in our live; help us realize that because you have given us so much, much are expected from us.
At the other extreme, many times we are like the apostles in the boat caught in a violent storm while at the middle of the sea and even if Jesus were with us, we act as if he were away.
Many times we do not meet you because we do not live our faith in you faithfully, so afraid of what others would say to us; but, there are also many times we do not meet you when our fears overtake us that we do not see you being with us.
The glory of God gives life; those who see God receive life… Life in man is the glory of God; the life of man is the vision of God.
St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies
Help us imitate St. Irenaeus who lived his faith faithfully that he saw you daily in his life. Amen.
