Have you ever been so happy or felt so blessed that you just burst into song? Perhaps you have had a great day or you have a new suit or a haircut and you feel like a “million bucks”. Today’s readings are very much like those feelings. In our first reading from Isaiah, we have some beautiful Jewish poetry about Jerusalem. One of my favorite lines in scripture is contained in this passage. “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you”. To me there is nothing more comforting than a mother’s hug and embrace. I know from being a father and a grandfather that there is also nothing more precious than to have a little one lying in your arms or on your chest as they fall asleep safe in the assurance that they are protected and loved. That is how God loves us.
Sometimes we are so grown up and tough that we forget that it is okay to “be little” once in a while. I don’t mean to be childish, but simply childlike and completely trust in our Lord. St. Paul tells us that we need to become a new creation in Christ. There is neither circumcision nor uncircumcision if we would simply immerse ourselves in Christ Jesus. In our Gospel, our Blessed Lord sends out the seventy two on a short mission to go to people’s homes and bless them with peace. They were to take no money and very simple clothing and accept whatever was offered to them. When the seventy two returned, they were rejoicing because of all the great things that had happened to them and how the very Name of Jesus chased away demons and spirits and how they were blessed. It is the same for us. We are all called to trust in Jesus.
When times are good it is easy, but when times are tough, it is very hard for us. This is because we want to be in control. We want to take over and we begin to lose our trust in God. This is when the image of a mother cradling her child should come back into your mind. You maybe six foot five, weigh 300 pounds and be strong as an ox, but to God you are still His little one. So, this week let us trust in God. In tough times let us allow God to hold us close. It is a wonderful thing to be a child of the King, and in our case the King of Kings…Now that is something to sing about…May God richly bless you always…