Fr. Don's Daily Reflection
“There is great grief and constant pain in my heart.” (Romans 9:1)
St. Paul writes of the disappointment he feels that his people have not embraced belief in Christ. We hear the same pain and grief expressed in our time by parents who say: “We raised the kids as good Christians; we tried by good example and without being tyrants to lead them to Christ. But none of them goes to church; they aren't raising their children in the faith.” It pains them to see what they regard as so important being rejected by their offspring. Neither Paul nor we can force the wills and choices of others. What we can do is trust in the value of our commitment and not let such disappointments lessen our generosity or good spirit.
We have been blessed with closeness to God and Christ, with life in the body of Christ and with the assurance and strength this brings. Rather than wailing over what isn't and dreaming of some other time, we need to give the present our best, our gifts, our hope. Whining, nagging, complaining, self-pity, grumpiness, bitterness, silence, are not, as Paul would say, the fruits of the spirit but of the flesh, of a short-sighted attitude. Rather, our true following of Christ shows itself in joy, kindness, forgiveness, respect for others' conscience, trust for the future, perseverance in prayer and worship. All that can have unseen effects on others.