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As we go into another year with a new surge in COVID-19, teach me, dear Lord, how to fight life's many battles; just when we thought we are almost done with the pandemic, recent events indicate more battles are still coming our way for sure. May we learn from the lessons of the past two years to equip us better this 2022 by deepening our faith in you and stop manipulating you.
So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned upon the cherubim. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were with the ark of God. When the ark of the Lord arrived in the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth resounded. The Philistines fought and Israel was defeated; every man fled to his own tent. It was a disastrous defeat, in which Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were among the dead.
1 Samuel 4:4-5, 10-11
Forgive us, God our Father, whenever we remember you most when we are losing life's battles; and worst, when we manipulate you to turn the tide in our favor!
Forgive us, God our Father, when we behave and act like pagans, believing more in our images and signs of your presence than in your very Person.
How foolish like lately in an accident in Brazil, many among us even questioned why you have allowed a boat named "Jesus" crushed by a falling rock that killed ten people on board including a child?!*
Teach me, O Jesus, to have the same attitude of that leper who approached you and humbly pleaded for healing, "If you wish, you can make me clean." And you were so moved with pity that you stretched out your hand and touched the leper, telling him, "I do will it. Be made clean" (Mk.1:40-41).
You have come to join us in our battles, Lord Jesus; let us then fight with you, and give us the courage to approach you and humbly beg you, trusting you which is in itself a way of fighting our life's battles. Amen.
* For the article, click https://aleteia.org/2022/01/11/boat-named-jesus-crushed-by-falling-rock-in-brazil-why-did-god-allow-it/
