Deacon Steven Johnson’s Reflection
Reflection for the 10th Week of Ordinary Time, Thursday, 6-9-22, Year C
Readings: 1 Kgs 18:41-46; Psalm 65:10-13, Gospel Mt 5:20-26
Optional Memorial: St. Ephrem, Deacon, and Doctor of the Church – Circa 303-376 AD
Theme: Don’t Put Off Tomorrow What You Can Do Today
Many of us can feel a gnawing feeling in our soul that we have hurt someone or did something that we should not have done. We just cannot get that feeling of shame or hurt off our minds and feel we have no path forward to address it. Who can we turn to?
Many of us can be so wrought with pain and suffering that we fall into despair with feelings of hopelessness. We can feel that there is nothing anyone can do; that we will never get out of our situation or addiction and must suffer for the rest of our lives. Not only do we suffer due to our situation, but we can also suffer knowing we let our family, friends, and even God down. Who can we turn to?
God is kind and merciful. He gave up His only Son in reparation for all our sins. All we have to do is turn to Him and believe in His love for us, which is without end. He is someone who we can talk to at any time, any place, and about anything we can think of, especially when we are in those low places in our lives. In His infinite wisdom, Christ gave us the sacraments, especially Reconciliation, to help us in any possible situation we find ourselves in. We would do well to avail ourselves of these gifts, and often. From the Sacraments, we are given the strength to go and fix any situation in our lives; and to do it quickly.
Jesus reminds us in today’s reading to do just that. We know when things need to be reconciled, a situation fixed, a relationship repaired, or a sin forgiven. Do not wait. The country singer, Cody Johnson, has a song, “Til You Can’t,” which sums this up well:
“You can tell your old man you’ll do some largemouth fishing another time~
You just got too much on your plate to bait and cast a line ~
You can always put a raincheck in his hand ~
Til you can’t.”
In times of serious trouble, confusion, sin, and anguish, turn to God and the Sacrament of Reconciliation for healing, and then go and fix it right away. For all other times, seek forgiveness, love yourself, and know that God is always there for you, no matter what.
Just do not wait to speak with Him, and do not wait to fish with your old man, because waiting for another time may seem ok, “til you can’t.”
Saint James Catholic Church 