Un-Quiet Word

This is Father's Day weekend, June 20th.  We remember in a special way all fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers, those living and past, all those who have been 'fathers' to us. May Saint Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, guide you always.  
  
Why do bad things happen to good people? Ever asked that question? The first reading is about this but also more. Job, a good and faithful man is going through 'a storm.' He seeks satisfying answers and an explanation from God as to the whyof his desperate condition? He remains always with a persistent faith that God will answer, but when and why this? Then, at last, his persistence provokes God to reply.  
  
The Lord addressed Job out of the storm and said:
    Who shut within doors the sea,
        when it burst forth from the womb; 
  
God replies, but with questions rather than answers or explanations. Why does Job doubt God in the first place? Does he know who God really is? What He is? Why does Job want to control things? Why is he insistent on a predictable future? Even in his most desperate of situations Job must remember that when we are before God, we are before a 'mystery.' He is all things. He knows all things. He is unpredictable yet caring and loving. If Job is to mature/grow in faith, he must rely totally on God being God (Let God be God in your life). Have faith no matter what! Believe and trust! . 
  
Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.
They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” 
  
The disciples in the boat at sea are caught up in a violent storm, as they struggle for their life. Jesus seems unconcerned ('asleep') . 
  
How often do we think this way too? We say God doesn't care! God forgets or abandons people! Why is God silent to my prayer or plea? How often are we people of little faith indeed?  
  
Jesus is not really asleep (never!) and he shows this to the disciples, but there is more — notice the response of the disciples who are in awe: "who then is this, who even the wind and sea obey?"  Before the disciples is God who is 'mystery." He who can command the wind and sea. Why even question or doubt? Awe is the only rightful response before God.  
  
Maturity in our lives is more than control of things, others, ourselves and our situations. Maturity is not knowing what and whom to expect. Maturity is not having the answers and explanations of everything . The exactness and finesse that we hunger for or strive to achieve is not maturity/growth in faith. For the believer/Christian it is to know that when we are before God this is everything. He is a 'mystery.' He guides us 'first.' He is before all things, and in Him all things find meaning and completion. He alone is master; He we must worship. This attitude breeds that great virtue of humility and fidelity to God and finding in Him (and not even our most  excellent works or efforts) the answers to our life questions. 
  
Allow God to be God in your life. Admit that His mystery surpasses your knowledge, questions or dilemmas. See yourself as 'mustard seed' (seemingly insufficient) and let God be able to use you to achieve His great things. Stand in awe of God always. To us He says: Hold on to me! (this is enough). 
  
Be Still and Know that I Am God.

Fr. Anthony