Thursday - 27th Week of OT 2017 - The promise of finding God

About four years ago, Pope Francis promulgated his first encyclical, Lumen Fidei, “The Light of Faith.”  This encyclical completes the series of Papal teaching begun by Pope Benedict, who had written on the two other theological virtues of Charity and Hope. Lumen Fidei is called the encyclical “written by four hands,” as it is clear that Pope Benedict wrote much of Lumen Fidei before his resignation.

The encyclical takes up the topic of man’s search for God and learning to live by the light of faith—and how faith can help and unite the people of the world. “Religious man strives to see signs of God in the daily experiences of life, in the cycle of the seasons, in the fruitfulness of the earth and in the movement of the cosmos. God is light and he can be found also by those who seek him with a sincere heart.”

The encyclical echoes what Jesus teaches in the Gospel today, “seek and you will find.”

Sometimes God is hard to see.  For many modern-day atheists and fallen away Catholics, God is particularly hard to see.  Some people don’t see God and can’t find God because they don’t want to see him and don’t want to find him.  Sometimes, as the Holy Father says, our eyes are not accustomed to seeing God because we’ve spent so much time in the world and not enough time in prayer.

Sometimes it is hard even for life-long Catholics to find God.  Particularly with the proliferation of war, so much violence and perversion, so many Catholics, our family members, falling away from the faith, , it’s hard to find God amidst all that.

But for those who are willing to undertake the journey to seek God ardently, Jesus promises that God will be found.

People of faith also have a responsibility of helping people without faith on their journey. Encourage them, challenge them, challenge their complacency, and even possibly their arrogant assumptions. The church year is full of celebrations of saints who were once godless and faithless. Remind them that God himself has promised that he can be found by those who seek him sincerely.

Listen to this beautiful prayer to the Blessed Mother concluding the encyclical. Mother, help our faith!  Open our ears to hear God’s word and to recognize his voice and call. Awaken in us a desire to follow in his footsteps, to go forth from our own land and to receive his promise. Help us to be touched by his love, that we may touch him in faith. Help us to entrust ourselves fully to him and to believe in his love, especially at times of trial, beneath the shadow of the cross, when our faith is called to mature. Sow in our faith the joy of the Risen One. Remind us that those who believe are never alone. Teach us to see all things with the eyes of Jesus, that he may be light for our path. And may this light of faith always increase in us, until the dawn of that undying day which is Christ himself, your Son, our Lord!

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That our Church leaders may be instilled with genuine Faith, Hope, and Charity and help all people of the world to grow in those virtues.

That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.

That our young people may take seriously the missionary call of Christ, that they will turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For all whose lives are marked by suffering, may they come to know the healing and peace of Christ.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.