TUESDAY OF THE FOURTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Yesterday as I finished up my blog post for the day, my phone rang. My phone never rings in the early morning. It was Cris, a man that had come into fire camp had a family member test positive for COVID. Cris had potentially been exposed to the virus.
Logically, I knew that Cris had limited opportunity for exposure. But it wasn't until this morning as I was hiking down Snow King when I got the news, the man tested negative, tears of relief fell from my eyes. My mind computed, so that's why I've been on edge. I know that we are all facing days like yesterday, filled with the anxiety that a loved one may be at risk. But, the Lord doesn't want us to be anxious; He wants us to trust in Him.
Today's Gospel speaks of Jesus's compassion,
At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36)
Like a sheep without a shepherd, yesterday, I tried my best to "give it to God," but I failed. I was troubled. Thankfully, the Lord doesn't leave us there. His compassionate heart reaches out to us in our troubles and never leaves us abandoned. Like little children, we fall down, but our Father is waiting to kiss our scraped knees and help us get back up. Each time we return to His loving arms, He gives us new grace to trust in Him. As we grow in faith, we learn through each of life's afflictions to place our confidence in Him and not in ourselves.