I often wonder if God gets tired of listening to me. After all who am I but a sinner. We as His children have so many needs and wants. Some of these things that I may want are not good for me. I get that. Abraham looked at the stars in the night sky and heard God speak to him that Abraham’s descendants would be as numerous. Somehow looking to the stars I understand Ahaz.
The Lord spoke to Ahaz; Ask for a sign from the Lord, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky! But Ahaz answered, I will not ask! I will not tempt the Lord!
Humility can only go so far.
Why do my petitions or anyone’s petitions matter to God. There must be so many cries to the Lord. How can He sort them all out? It would drive me crazy.
The point is He is God and I am not.
God can balance all these petitions. Sometimes, I know everyone feels insignificant in God’s eyes. My daughter’s boyfriend is recovering from addiction. I give him credit for his effort but he did not do it alone. He had support from others and somewhere in his past his parents planted a seed that he was loved by God. His is an ongoing struggle, but he is important to God. I like him and I give him credit.
Then Isaiah said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary men, must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, an shall name him Emmanuel. As you know Emmanuel means our God is with us .
I hope never to weary God, but I still look at the stars and say which star belongs to me and why should God listen to me. Then in Luke the angel said, “ Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.Behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his Kingdom there will be no end“
This time of year there are people even at Mass today who are lonely and feel as insignificant as the stars. We have neighbors and friends and even close relatives who need our love now and need reassurance that they are not insignificant . We are God’s hand to reach out the world to show people like Ahaz that our God is with us and that his Kingdom will have no end. He loved us so much He gave us a Savior.
God Love you always
Bob Burford
