Never will I leave you!

How beautiful those words are!
Bailey and Max – thunder storm -- Imagine a child, frightened by a storm at night
and the parent comes to her room and says, I am here, don’t be afraid, I will protect
you, I won’t ever leave you.
Imagine a woman with complications in childbirth and here husband is there. He
takes her hand and says, I am here…
Imagine an elderly man in his final hours and his child is there with him. He wipes
away her tears and says, “I will always be with you. Think of me and I will be
there.”
These are human stories – but they are reflections of the love that God has for us.
God longs for us to experience his never-ending love.
He wants to be with us in everything that we are facing.
He tells us – no matter what, I will never leave you.
An experience of the presence of God is called a theophany – a manifestation of
the divine.
Mathew Kelly calls it a “holy moment”.
Others call it a “God moment”
Others say – when something happens just right – you hear the song that you need
to hear just exactly when you need to hear it – that it is not a coincidence.
It is a God-incidence!
Our readings this week are all about theophanies.
Elijah felt like a failure.
In spite of defeating the prophets of the false gods, and escaping the wrath of the
queen, his own people would not follow the ways of the true God.
He prayed and asked God to end his life right there.
Instead, God came to him – not with great signs of power and might
 Not in a strong wind
 Not in an earthquake
 Not in a blazing fire
 But in a whispered breeze

Often theophanies happen in prayer.
God told him – “Elijah, I will never leave you.” and God gave Elijah a new plan.
The Apostles were out on the lake in a storm – tossed around by a strong wind and
powerful waves.
Things were not going well.
I’ll bet they were praying!
Peter did something unexpected – which was not unusual for Peter.
He stepped out of the relative safety of the boat.
There is no way that Peter got up that morning and said to himself, “I think I’ll
walk on the water today.”
But his faith drew him to step out and take a risk
I’ll bet his faith – even though he faltered – was an inspiration to his brothers.
Peter did something unexpected, and when he faltered – Jesus said, “I am here,
take my hand.”
He took Peter by the hand and calmed the sea!
It’s great when we pray and God gives us the answer right away – and even better
if it is the answer that we want.
St. Paul’s story is a little different in our second reading.
The Israelites – God’s chosen people – Paul’s brothers and sister in faith, his own
people – He calls them his “kindred according to the flesh.”
They would not accept Jesus as the Messiah.
Paul knew Jesus – knew that he was the Son of God
Knew that he suffered and died that humankind might have eternal life –
He wanted eternal life for those he loved – yet they rejected Jesus.
What would we do to bring someone we love back to Jesus?
Some of us are faced with that question.
St. Paul says: For I wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for my
own people, my kindred according to the flesh.
What is he saying? To be cut off from Christ? Is he saying – would he give up is
place in Heaven for his brothers and sisters?

Fortunately, God does not ask that of us.
But he assures us – Never will I leave you. And never will I leave your loved one.
Stay close to me.
Sometimes when we pray, the answer does not come right away.
Sometimes it is coming, but we do not recognize it – because it is not coming in
the way we think it should.
Prayer is about us conforming to the will of God – to God’s plan for our life not
God’s plan conforming to our will.
Sometimes we tell God – I wouldn’t do it that way…..
And God says, “I know. That’s why I am God and you are not! Trust me – I got
this!
If we stay close to Jesus, no matter what we face, he will never leave us!
How do we stay close to Jesus?
 Spend time in Scripture
 Sacrament of Reconciliation
 Mass and Holy Communion
 Christian fellowship - FAMily
 Reach out to those facing challenges – Jesus is there.

Loaves and Fishes
St. Vincent de Paul
Christ Child Society
24/7 Food Pantry
Serving at a funeral dinner
Ministering here at Mass

We are called to live with faith – not with fear.
And we are assured that no matter what we face, Jesus will be with us.
He says, “Never will I leave you.”
“Never will I Leave You” – Michael Card
Thank you, Jesus!
Amen

Penitential Rite

Lord Jesus, you come to us in the storms of our lives, Lord have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you tell us to take courage and not be afraid, Christ have mercy.
Lord Jesus, truly you are the Son of God, Lord have mercy.