First Reading:  Isaiah 55:1-3
Second Reading: Romans 8:35, 37-39
Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21

What a great God we have.  The first reading of today from the prophet Isaiah ends with these words, "The Lord made a covenant to look after his people." (Is 55:3)  What does this mean?  It means that God made a promise to look after me and you.  Now, when God promises something, He will be always faithful to it.  The same prophet Isaiah has this to say about God's promises. "My word is like the snow and the rain that come down from the sky to water the earth......so also will be the word that I speak.  It will not fail to do what I plan for it; it will do everything I send it to do." (Is 55:10-11)  Let us just try to pause here for a moment and hear ourselves say.  I am constantly being cared for by my God.  He has promised this and He will not back off from what He promised.

I learnt a lot from my grandma.  She had ten children, most of them born before the Second World War.  One day I said to my grandma, "Nan, tell me how did you cope during the war, when you lived in constant danger?"  Malta is a very small island and it was one of the places that suffered continuous heavy bombing during the war.  The only protection that was provided for the general populace were underground shelters where each family was allotted a little space.  One can only imagine the fear, the anxiety and the trepidation that the people experienced.  My grandma was allotted a small place where she could keep all the family together.  I said to her that in Australia people generally live very well.  Many have beautiful houses, good employment and seem to be able to have the latest commodities.  Yet, many are not happy.  Many still complain and desire to have or to possess more.  "Nan how did you cope during the war during those dire conditions?"

I remember that she looked at me and said it was only prayer that kept the family together.  Praying the Rosary helped a great deal to sustain the family with hope and with perseverance.  Then she said these words that will always remain stamped in my heart.  "I did my best and God did the rest. I will continue to be faithful to God and He will continue to be faithful to me.  Somehow God is here in these dangerous times and He promised that He will be there no matter what.  I will hold on to His promise.  They were not easy times.  We faced many dangers.  However, as usual, truth will always triumph because I believe that God is on the side of what is true and just."  This is how we coped.

This has also been the experience of those who have tried to maintain a close relationship with our God.  Paul went through a lot of hardships.  In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul talks about what he went through because he was a believer in Jesus Christ.  He was put into prison, he was whipped and he experienced three shipwrecks.  He faced many dangers from thieves and robbers and often experienced hunger and thirst. (2 Cor 11:23-28)  Yet at the same time he could say, "I can do everything in Christ who strengthens me." (Phil 4:13)  Paul was convinced that because Jesus Christ was with Him through his baptism he will overcome any obstacles, face any difficulties and persevere in his mission.

I can imagine Paul proclaiming with hope and with joy the words that we find in today's second reading from his letter to the Romans, "Who can separate us from the love of Christ?  Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death?.....No in all these things we have complete victory through Him who loved us." (Rom 8:35-37)

At the present time we are living in a world where there is a lot of anxiety.  We have witnessed not so long ago the horrible atrocities in Iraq, London, Turkey, Egypt and Israel.  There are too many fires of war burning in places in Africa and the Middle East.  We are experiencing daily the influx of refugees in many countries as they flee situations of torture, abuse, vengeance and hatred.  Our own nation is trying to find ways and means how to tighten its security.  We are constantly told to look for anything suspicious and report it to the appropriate authorities.  In the face of this situation, it is very easy to give up.  As Christians we need to hold on to the promise that Jesus is with us, that ultimately He is in control.  We continue to live our lives based on His teachings and guidelines.  We continue to be faithful and eventually truth and justice will triumph.  That is what God promised and this is what will ultimately happen.

"Lord Jesus Christ, I come before you at this moment.   I believe in your promise that you will always be with me, that you will always take care of me.  I trust you with my past, with my present and with my future.  You know what is in my heart.  You are aware of my joys, hopes, dreams, pains and struggles.  Come into my heart.  Renew my spirit with your life giving presence.  Soothe me with your peace.  Make me continue to experience the great love that you have for me.  Into your hands I entrust whoever I am and whatever I have.  I desire to walk with you because only you know what is best for me.  Amen."

God Bless

Bishop Joe Grech