Joel 1:13-15; 2:1-2
Psalm 9:2-3, 6 & 16, 8-9
Luke 11:15-26
Summary
“
The Day of the Lord" - Our readings remind us, lest we forget, we de-
pend on the Lord and if we turn our back on Him our days will be mis-
erable," a day of darkness and gloom," as Joel says. When we turn to
and rely on the Lord the Kingdom of God is upon us.
Reflection
I was greatly comforted some years ago when I read that some of the
best known Christian historical figures have their moments of doubt,
when their faith ebbed. St. Augustine and Mother Theresa, for example,
both wrote of their struggles of faith.
I was comforted because I revere them and I have had a lifetime of faith ebbing
and flowing. When I was very young I was an altar boy and had an unquestion-
ing, rosy cheeked faith that was entirely uncomplicated but which was largely
rote. Events showed it was a weak faith.
As I aged and life came into session there were increasingly difficult times and as
the misery increased I became convinced God had deserted me
;
that He had
turned His back on me. Ultimately I became convinced there was no God. How
could there be a God when I was so miserable? I spent many years in that dark-
ness and gloom and made all those around me miserable. As I look back now I
recognize I fell into a self-centered and selfish refusal to see how I had painted
myself into the corner I was in. If I had still believed in God I would have blamed
him. I refused to ask anyone's help, let alone ask God's help. There was no
help; there was no God.
Then by God's Grace I had a moment of clarity and slow step by slow and falter-
ing step I came to understand God had and has been with me all along. God
is! God didn't turn His back on me, I turned my back on Him and He was waiting
for me. In forgetting God I relied on myself and sank into the pit I had made, to