As we end this 21st week after Pentecost, the readings that are assigned to help us think about how to live this present life are taken from Paul’s Letter to the Galatians and Luke’s Gospel. The Gospel story is that story which we hear at each and every funeral as the coffin is taken from the church.

Paul makes these two very poignant statements in his letter to the Galatians:

…knowing that a man is not justified by legal observance but by faith in Jesus Christ, we too have believed in him in order to be justified by faith in Christ, not by observance of the law….

Paul further writes to the Galatians:

I have been crucified with Christ, and the life I live now is not my own; Christ is living in me. I still live my human life, but it is a life of faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

What truly profound statements! They should cause us to stop and reflect and ask ourselves if we can say the very same words.

The Gospel story reminds us that when we are sad, when we feel overwhelmed by life and when we don’t know what to do, Christ and His message can, if we open our hearts and minds, fill the void within us and help us to see the goodness of life. Christ’s words to the woman in the Gospel story are so very powerful, “Don’t cry”.

Christ’s message helps us to see that life is “good” and although at times challenging, it is wonderful because it provides us with a multitude of opportunities to grow in our ability to hope and trust in God.

While it is true that certain challenges in life can be very difficult – the loss of a child can be devastating for parents – it is never true that these challenges are meant to be punishing or harmful. While it is true that certain challenges require all of the strength and courage that we may possess, it is also true that life never presents challenges that are too much for us to handle. As God told Paul, My grace is always sufficient for you to deal with the challenges of life.

If we are overwhelmed by the challenges of life, the problem is our lack of TRUST in God – our lack of understanding that life’s challenges are given to us in order that we might grow in our love and trust of God.

What message did you receive from these readings?