It is late on a Sunday evening. All is quiet. It is a good time of the day. It is as though the earth has settled down at long last and there is now time for reflection and anticipation.
One of the things I enjoy most about Sunday is going to church. There is a sense of solitude and intimacy about that time. It is a time to connect both with the Lord and those who are in attendance with you. It is a time to give thanks and praise to our God who loves us beyond any human notion of what love is.
In our church we have a huge crucifix attached to the wall directly behind the altar. It is a wonderful representation of what our Lord endured for us so long ago. Before Mass begins I find myself staring intently at the image, getting lost in the magnificence of the act of salvation it represents. It tends to put things into their proper perspective. And it also inspires a sense of supreme thanksgiving for what was done for us all. In addition to that, I find myself thanking God at that very moment for the gifts that have been so generously bestowed upon me. Family, friends, health, the grace and ability to enjoy life all come to mind. It is so easy to take these things for granted until we begin to contemplate the tentative nature of life itself.
While we are in times of deep financial crisis and stress, we must remember to keep things in perspective. We must focus on those positive things in our lives that no economic conditions can take away from us. They are often the intangibles of life and yet they provide a richness to our existence that no mere money could ever bring us. That is not to say that money is not important. It would be foolish to think otherwise. However, with family and friends and the love of God and our faithfulness to his will, we can prevail. It may not be easy, but it can be done. Just think of Christ on the cross and the impossibility that represents. Then look to Easter to see the miracle of the possibility brought about by faith!
