A joke by Steve Anderson:
While I sat in the reception area of my doctor’s office, a woman rolled an elderly man in a wheelchair into the room. As she went to the receptionist’s desk, the man sat there, alone and silent.
Just as I was thinking I should make small talk with him, a little boy slipped off his mother’s lap, and walked over to the wheelchair. Placing his hand on the man’s, he said,
I know how you feel. My mom makes me ride in the stroller, too.
Couldn’t you just see the elderly man just smile!
A whole new perspective!
I’m sure most of you remember the poem called Footprints in the Sand, written by Mary Stevenson, but for those who haven’t, it goes like this:
One night I dreamed…
I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
Other times there was only one set of footprints.
This bothered me because I noticed
That during the low periods of my life,
When I was suffering from anguish, sorrow, or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.
So, I said to the Lord,
You promised me Lord,
That if I followed you, you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
There has been only one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?
The Lord replied,
The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.
All three of our scripture readings today give us the common theme that God is on our side, even when we choose not to be on His side. Isaiah prophecies that God wants his people to return to him and enjoy the party! In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus empowers his disciples to give way beyond what they thought even possible — and in the sharing, they have plenty left over — meaning they have much more to give.
Our second reading from Romans, tries to shake us up, and have a whole new perspective! What is it that can keep us from the love of God? Only, in the way that we see things. In these troubling times, may we work together to build up the kingdom of God, and keep focused to the truth before us!