Dear Friends,

Reflecting on this week’s readings from Sacred Scripture, I could not help but recall a reflection that I discovered several years ago titled, “An Interview with God.”

I had a dream in which I had an opportunity to interview God Himself. “Come in,” God said. “So, you would like to interview Me?” “If you have the time,” I said. God smiled and said: “My time is eternity and is enough to do everything; what questions do you have for me?”

“What surprises you most about human beings?” I sheepishly asked. God answered:

● That they get bored of being children, are in a rush to grow up, and then long to be children again…

● That they lose their health to make money and then lose their money to restore their health…

● That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live neither for the present nor the future…

● That they live as if they will never die, and they die as if they had never lived."

God took my hand and we were silent for a moment; I then asked: “As a pastor what are the life-lessons, that You want me to share with your children?” He replied:

● To learn that they cannot make anyone love them. What they can do is love others no matter how they respond and to allow themselves to be loved…

● To learn that what is most valuable is not what they have in their lives, but who they have in their lives…

● To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others. All will be judged individually on their own merits, not as a group or on a comparison basis…

● To learn that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least, at least materially; but may have even greater emotional or spiritual needs than the poorest among us…

● To learn that it only takes a few seconds for our words to open deep and hurtful wounds in persons we love, and that it takes many years to heal them…

● To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness…

● To learn that there are persons who love them dearly, but simply do not know how to express or show their feelings…

● To learn that money can buy everything but happiness…

● To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it totally different … and they both can be right…

● To learn that a true friend is someone who knows everything about them, and likes them anyway…

● To learn that it is not always enough that they be forgiven by others, but that they have to forgive themselves, as well."

I sat there for a while enjoying the moment. I thanked Him for His time and for all that He has done for me and my family, and St. Isaac Jogues Parish. He replied, “Anytime. I’m here 24 hours a day. All you have to do is ask for Me, and I’ll always answer.”

The Good Lord has generously shared His Word with us and has graciously bestowed His many blessings upon us. It is time for us to open our eyes and see; to unblock our ears and listen; to unbind our hearts and understand His great love for us. The Kingdom of God is in our midst, because the Good Lord is with us and within us! Let us discover anew the gift that He Himself created in ourselves!

Be of good cheer and have a blessed and restful week!

Msgr. Grous