“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matthew 5:8
We are sinful humans, repentant sinful humans who truly desire to do our Father’s will in all that we say and do here on this side of Heaven. It seems that the past decade have been filled with quite a large share of hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, tornadoes, floods and now COVID 19; calamities that we cannot control but just sit back and witness and then pick up the pieces, bury the dead and comfort the hurting. Some say that the end is near. A news reporter commented recently at the devastation ‘mother nature’ had unleashed through a powerful tornado. God created the heavens and earth and this glorious planet does have bumps and rattles from time to time. Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, our Heavenly Father smiles from above and says, "Relax, it's just a bend, not the end!”
The attached photo is of what is left from the National Catholic Church in Port-au-Prince following the January 12, 2010 earthquake; you have probably seen it before as many magazines have displayed it from different angles. It is a vivid reminder that through all the twists and turns in our lives one thing will always be there; our risen Savior. We are forgiven because of Him. We continue to exclaim to our Triune God the words of David in Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”
This theme of this verse is woven through Scriptures; whether spoken by the prophets, the psalmists, the wisdom teachers or by the apostles or Jesus. Much of our human lives is marked by deception and lies of this world. Children living in Haiti are still being told by those who place their trust in the vodou priest, that Christ died on Calvary and was buried and is still in the tomb. For the children attending Christian schools in Haiti and for us who strive to be pure in heart, going to be with God is not a far journey, for we’ve sought to live with him every day. Thank you for praying daily for these children, bringing them peace in uncertain times. Thank you for supporting them with a daily meal when there is nothing else to eat.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay