Over Already

"Make us know the shortness of our life, that we may gain wisdom of heart." - Psalm 90:12

Today, my 17 year old twin brothers learned what death is. Two of their friends were killed in a car accident in front of their High School on the way back from lunch. Their white mazda was pretty much wrapped around a telephone pole.

No one can ever explain why some lives are taken so soon. Jordan and Jonathan lost two of their friends. One of them was Jonathan's lab and gym partner. How is he going to understand the emptiness he'll feel when there's no one sitting next to him tomorrow? There are families grieving over their sons right now with no comfort. These are the reasons why we have to ask God to help us number our days. We will all face death one day, but are we ready, or are we counting on getting older to make the changes we need to make in our lives? If you were to meet with death tonight, are there people you should be apologizing to? Are there people who should know how much you love them? Are there mistakes you need to correct? Are there things you need to set right with God? I'm sure Quinntin and Saul would have used their last hours in very different ways if they had known.

I'd like for the Lord to help me get over the shock of their early death, and allow for this to show us the reality and fragility of our lives. It can be over in a second and we never know when that will be. Let's make sure we're right with God for when our turn comes.

Today's Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I ask You for the souls of Quinntin and Saul, two kids who know find themselves in Your presence today. I ask You to provide extraordinary comfort to the parents and families of these kids as they deal with this tragedy, and I ask You for all of the students and friends mourning their loss, especially Jordan and Jonathan. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Accepting Ourselves

"But because you are almighty, you are merciful to all; you overlook sins and give your children time to repent. You love everything that exists and hate nothing that you have made; had you hated anything, you would not have formed it. How could anything endure if you did not will it? And how could anything last that you had not willed? You have compassion on all because all is yours, O Lord, lover of life." - Wisdom 11:23-26

I was of the mind that God is so holy and we are always lacking in faithfulness, therefore are always sinning. I wondered to myself who would ever be pure enough to really walk with Jesus. I wondered what God thought of me and all the sins I commit time after time, and I would feel bad, so guilty before the Lord. Not at all worthy to even keep following Him. This verse was part of today's reading in mass and I felt God speak to me through it. It's one of the most beautiful things I have ever read in the bible. It tells us that beyond everything, even our wickedness, the Lord is good, kind, merciful, loving, and He waits for us to return to Him, with patience and understanding. For all the times I would feel such guilt before Him, like I am not worthy of Him, this verse tells us that He created us and sees us for what we are. The good and the bad, and He still loves us regardless. And if He didn't see good and love in who we are right now, as evil as we can be, He wouldn't allow us to keep existing because He loves what He creates and destroys that which He hates. We tend to be harder on ourselves and judge ourselves more severely than God Himself. I guess it's His will for me to be the sinner that I am now and that it's all part of His plan. But regardless, even if we're saints or sinners, His love is bigger than anything we've done or can do.

Today's Prayer:
Lord God, thank You for loving me and accepting me as I am. I am Your beloved child, and as I am, You have called me and love me. In Your Name we pray, amen.

Wisdom

"The beginning of knowledge is the fear of the Lord." - Proverbs 1:7

We are all thirsty for knowledge and spend our time going to school and reading; trying to be well-rounded, educated people. However, in Proverbs, King Solomon writes that in order for anyone to ever learn anything, he must fear the Lord first. King Solomon was King David's son. Solomon was so pleasing to God that He told Solomon he could ask Him for anything and He would grant that wish. Instead of asking for more riches, women, or power, King Solomon asked God for wisdom and it is said that he was one of the wisest people to have ever lived. The book of Proverbs is dedicated to his teachings about knowledge, wisdom, and how to lead a good life. If with all his great wisdom, King Solomon stresses that the beginning of knowledge is fear of the Lord, then we must know our place and realize that if we truly want to know anything, we must respect God and pay Him honor. All knowledge comes from the Lord. If we don't learn this and put it to use, then we will never be truly wise.

Today's Prayer:
Thank You Lord for Your words of wisdom. Grant that Yours is the only knowledge I seek. In Your Name we pray, Amen.