Thursday, May 23, 2019 – Stepping back to the basics

Announce his salvation, day after day.

Tell his glory among the nations;

among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

Psalm 96

It’s not often that I reflect deeply on the Psalm of the day. My attention is usually captured by the Old Testament readings of our daily Liturgy.

But the events of our world in these troubling days cause me to ponder the bigger questions of our faith. Our core belief in God – that there is a God and we are not in control, but He is … guiding us on the right path, should we choose to follow with our free will.

Our Pastor this past weekend reminded us that when you drill down into all the controversies of the day, it is the sad truth that many are rooted in a basic loss of faith by so many people in our world today.

That’s why today’s readings – especially the Psalm – serves to remind us that we are called to first and foremost spread the “good news” of salvation. Sometimes I feel we take this for granted … it is so often said that we just consider it second nature. Something, perhaps, that everybody believes in one way or another.

But that is not the case. And that feeling of warm and fuzzy assurances of grace that will carry everybody – including our pets – to heaven, can lull us to sleep, or complacency and inactivity, when it is the opposite that needs to be expressed in this dark world of ours.

I’m not talking about cracking the whip on sinners and passing judgment on our friends and family.

I’m talking about reminding ourselves that we need to evangelize the world, revealing once again that God is real … salvation is our hope … and that there is love, truth and justice in Lord’s teaching.

Say among the nations: The LORD is king.

He has made the world firm, not to be moved;

He governs the peoples with equity.

When an entire generation of people embraces a culture that denies the existence of God, believes that they can set their own path and has no worries about everlasting life (which is probably a made-up fantasy, anyway) – then you have a culture of death.

I think it’s time to step back from the thousand little arguments and debates we have each day over so many complicated topics …

Time to stop painting one another into extreme corners …

Recognize that there is such a thing as truth … but that we arrive at that truth by first seeking common ground, love and understanding…

It is time – once again – to use our words and our actions (mostly our actions) – to show the world that God is real.

To share the good news to all.

To be … the true light of world.

About the Author

Dan McFeely is a Carmel, Indiana, writer, communications business owner, book editor and a former professional journalist. Dan also works as an Adult Faith Formation Minister, currently serving as a spiritual director for the men's and women's Christ Renews His Parish program at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Carmel. He is a graduate of the Ecclesial Lay Ministry program offered by the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana and has studied theology at Marian University.

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9 Comments

  2. Thanks Mark. Your sharing is deep and to the point. We need to evangelize the world by our words and especially our actions. Since we can’t give what we don’t have, we definitely need to be filled with God’s love and His words so we can share in our ‘sick’ world.

  3. I share your desperate plea to help one another to a better place and space. Way too many petty conflicts that in reality don’t add up to much…except hurtful feelings. Common ground and understanding seems far away…where is the love and respect each other? Help me Lord to do my part in sharing my love and faith.

  4. Love is the answer. I feel that it is our call to share the truth of God’s unending love with others. Once we know his love and mercy, we seek forgiveness and truth. Love and understanding can go a long way in calling others back to God.
    Thank you for this wonderful reflection.

  6. Here’s a challenging read for a non-believer: I don’t have enough faith to be an atheist, by N. Geisler and F. Turek:
    “To some, the concept of having faith in a higher power or a set of religious beliefs is nonsensical. Indeed, many view religion in general, and Christianity in particular, as unfounded and unreasonable. Norman Geisler and Frank Turek argue, however, that Christianity is not only more reasonable than all other belief systems, but is indeed more rational than unbelief itself. With conviction and clear thinking, Geisler and Turek guide readers through some of the traditional, tested arguments for the existence of a creator God….”

  8. Many years ago at a retreat centre, there was a huge banner that read

    Let God Love You and Experience Amazing Grace

    I wrote those words in a journal when I came home and meditated on them for a long time after. Then troubles entered …. Today, your reflection reminded me of those words Dan. Thank you.

    God bless

  9. On occasion I have thought that it is difficult to abide by commandments 4 through 10 (especially 5) if one doubts the authority of 1 through 3; or doubts the verity of the Author. Similarly, it is difficult to follow the Golden Rule if we forget it is the second of two great commandments. Your pastor’s observation regarding the roots of the controversies of the day brought that thought home to me today. As always a marvelous reflection.

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