"Tools" of the Master

When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him. (Matthew 1:24) 

Many craftsmen have a favorite tool. They use it often and trust that it will do the job, and do it well. It stands up to heavy use, day in and day out. It’s easy—even satisfying—to operate. A craftsman might even see his favorite tool as an extension of himself, as a reflection of his skill as a worker.

Now, suppose the craftsman is the Lord, and his trade is building the kingdom, God’s house. Surely Joseph was one of God’s favored tools! Why? Because he was flexible, obedient, and faithful.

Did you notice that God didn’t forewarn Joseph about Mary’s unexpected pregnancy? God let him discover the news himself. Rather than panicking, Joseph was flexible; he trusted God and responded peaceably and discreetly. It was only later that God sent the angel to reassure Joseph in his dreams. Then, after he awoke, Joseph promptly obeyed God and brought Mary into his home. He accepted the child God entrusted to him, and raised him in humility and faithfulness to the Lord.

As God goes about plying his trade of kingdom-building on earth, he has many other favored tools—us. Like Joseph, we can be an extension of his hands and feet if we are available and obedient. He relies on us to display his love and peace in trying situations, and to obey when we’re called forward. He has even entrusted the next generation of Christ’s followers to us. 

Tools belong near their master’s side, ready for use. That’s why we need to spend time with the Lord in prayer every day. Now, we can’t always be praying—we do have other responsibilities, just like Joseph! So as you go about your day, keep lifting your heart up to God. Be attentive and listen for his guidance. Wherever the day carries you, maintain an attitude of availability. You may not always sense his presence. But you’ll be at his side, ready to respond in faithful obedience when he nudges you.

“Lord, use me. I want to be a trusted tool in your hands.”

from wau.org

Transformation

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 4:1)

Today’s readings show us two opposite responses to the temptation to be “like gods” (Genesis 3:5). Our first parents gave in to the serpent’s allure, but Jesus didn’t. He did what we could not do. Facing every temptation that we face, he clung to his Father and remained free from sin. 

Sin is appealing, isn’t it? It’s also incredibly deceptive, passing itself off as harmless and maybe even good for us. Imagine how the forbidden fruit must have appeared to Eve—“good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and . . . desirable for gaining wisdom” (Genesis 3:6). But that doesn’t mean fighting temptation is a hopeless cause. This Lent is a time when our lives can change. 

What temptations oppress you the most? A tendency toward irritation or resentment? Selfishness? Jealousy? Choose one, and decide to make some headway in just this one area this Lent.

Here’s one of the best ways to do it: think about Jesus in the wilderness, battling hunger and the nagging voice of Satan. Each time he was tempted, Jesus turned to his Father in prayer, even when it was a great effort, even when the truths he clung to felt distant. And his Father didn’t abandon him!

God never turns away from us either. He is always ready to help us. That’s why Lent is such a vital time. It’s our chance to change directions and cling to the Lord and his word. It’s our chance to say no to the temptations we face and turn back to our heavenly Father. 

When you do this, it will make a difference in your relationship with God. But it will also change the world. Think about the ripple effects of millions of people turning away from the snares of the devil and welcoming God more deeply into their lives! Come Easter, families will be stronger, and faith will be deeper.

“Jesus, show me what is tempting me, and help me turn back to the Father.”

from wau.org

Reliance

Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (Mark 10:14) 

“Dad, can I have a glass of water?” “Mom, can you read me a story?”

Little kids love to ask for us to do things for them, don’t they? Especially when it’s time for bed! Yet as they mature, they begin to come to terms with the call to become more and more self-sufficient and independent. “I want to do it myself!” is a common toddler anthem—even when they clearly can’t.

As parents, we like to encourage our children and applaud them when we see them take on new challenges, but we also try to maintain some limits. And then there are the times when we see them struggling and wish they would have come to us for help instead—if only to ask for advice. These are the situations that can touch our hearts the most.

When it comes to us as adults, independence is often our default approach to life. While it has its strong points, it can also have its weaknesses. For instance, we might feel as if we need to shoulder all of our burdens on our own. Maybe we think that our problems are too small for Jesus—or that they’re too big, and we’re not worthy of a corresponding miracle. 

Today’s Gospel reading asks us to reflect on this independent instinct. Jesus is telling us that we should always feel free to ask him for help, just like little children. He is always ready to welcome us with open arms and give us wisdom and guidance, his healing and strength.

Today, take some time to ponder whether there are things that you may not have thought to take to Jesus. They may be little struggles in your life, medium-sized patterns of sin, or major challenges that are casting a cloud over your heart. Think about how eager Jesus is to help you, how approachable he is, and how simple it can be to lean on him. Don’t be too proud (or ashamed) to admit that you need his guidance and comfort. He already knows it anyway!

“Jesus, there is so much you want to offer me. Help me bring my big and little challenges to you. Teach me how to become as dependent as a little child.”

from wau.org

Counter trials with trust

When you come to serve the Lord . . . prepare yourself for trials. (Sirach 2:1) 

“Prepare yourself for trials”? That’s a phrase you might expect a drill sergeant to say to new recruits. Or a man might say it to his son who is raising teenagers. But serving God? What does that mean?

Sirach rightly understood that people who try to serve the Lord are certain to face spiritual trials like discouragement and anxiety—and all manner of challenges that will tempt them to give up their goals. That’s why he is encouraging his readers to gear up for these trials, just as a soldier or a father would prepare for the hands-on challenges of their vocation.

So what is Sirach’s specific advice? To guard against discouragement, he urges us to be “sincere of heart” (Sirach 2:2). In other words, when faced with adversity, we should be honest with God. Don’t think he doesn’t care. Instead, tell him your troubles in a spirit of faith and hope. Cast your cares on him, confident that he will care for you (1 Peter 5:7). 

As for anxiety, Sirach tells us, “Hold on! Wait a little longer!” You might be tempted to give up on God’s love in a small—or big—area of your life. But this is exactly the moment to cling to him all the more! Tell God, “I trust you—I know you won’t give up on me.” Say it over and over if you need to, until your heart is at rest. This may be hard, but think of it as an act of faith. And if there is anything that moves God’s heart, it’s faith.

Finally, there is self-pity. Absorbed in our troubles, we can feel like we are the only person in our predicament. But Sirach encourages us to reflect on heroes of the past like Abraham or Esther, people who trusted in God’s faithfulness and were saved. Or look back on your own story. Chances are you’ll find similar instances of God working in you, stories that nudge you to be grateful, even in the face of trials.

Remember, all servants of God will face spiritual trials. But with tools like sincerity, trust, and gratitude, you will be better prepared to face them when they come.

“Lord, I want to cling to you. Help me to counter trials with trust.”

from wau.org

Chosen, Beloved, Child

Let us build ourselves . . . a tower with its top in the sky, and so make a name for ourselves. (Genesis 11:4)

Did you know that the tower in this story sounds very much like the ancient ziggurats that dotted the Mesopotamian landscape? These elaborate pagan monuments stretched as high as three hundred feet into the sky. Some of them still stand today as testimonies to the creativity of the people who built them. So why did God object when the people of Babel built their tower? What was so bad about using their skill to craft a magnificent structure? 

Of course God wants us to use our talents to create new and beautiful things—he applauds that, in fact. The problem was that the people were concerned with making “a name” for themselves (Genesis 11:4). Why would they do such a thing when God already had a name for them? He had created them, formed them, and protected them. They already had a dignity and identity that far outstripped any other name they could come up with. 

God has a name for you too—one that reflects your place in his heart. Actually, he has more than one name.

Chosen. You are not an accident. God chose to create you with all your unique quirks and talents. Every day, he continues to choose you by inviting you to be with him. So believe that you are Chosen, not rejected. 

Beloved. God loves you with a deep and abiding love. He loves you not because you are perfect, but because you are his own. He delights in you and sees the goodness he has created in you. So believe that you are Beloved, not forgotten. 

Child. This might be the best name of all. You belong. You are part of his family. He is committed to you just as a Father is committed to his children. You are never alone. So believe that you are a Child of God, not an orphan. 

You don’t have to make a name for yourself. Your identity is wrapped up in who God has made you to be, not in the things you achieve. You are his chosen, his beloved, his child. Today in prayer, choose one of these names. Repeat it to yourself, thanking God and saying, over and over, “You call me ____________.” 

“Father, thank you for giving me a name that can never be taken from me.”

from wau.org

Not indifferent

He laid hands on the man’s eyes a second time and he saw clearly. (Mark 8:25)

Have you ever noticed that Jesus is never in a hurry? Take today’s Gospel, for instance. Instead of acting right away, Jesus gently led a blind man to a place where they could be alone. He then prayed with him and took the time to ask how well he was seeing. Then he prayed with him again, until his vision was completely restored.

We don’t know why this miracle happened in stages, but it’s clear that the ongoing interaction between Jesus and this man reveals an important aspect of God’s plan for healing. 

We all know what it’s like to beg God to heal a sickness or an inner wound caused by divided relationships. Sometimes he answers right away, giving a powerful witness to us and the people around us. But it seems that he is more likely to take his time. We experience a partial healing, but the illness remains. We are more at peace and more forgiving, but there’s still a sting to the inner wound.

We don’t know exactly why God takes his time with us. This is one of the great mysteries of our faith. But we should never think that Jesus is indifferent to our needs. Our healing matters to him, but it seems that there are times that he wants to heal us on a deeper level than we are looking for.

Perhaps he wants to build our trust in him. Perhaps he “delays” to strengthen our faith. Or perhaps he wants our humble surrender to him to testify to the people around us. Whatever the case, we can be sure that every time we come to Jesus for healing, he hears us and answers us. Every time we come to him, he touches us a little more deeply and asks, “Do you see me more clearly now?”

You may be suffering physically. You may have a deep emotional or psychological hurt. Your healing may come incrementally instead of all at once. Trust that Jesus is healing you. A deep hurt can take time to mend; it can require a gradual letting go. But each step along the path helps you see Jesus more clearly, and that’s the most important healing of all. 

“Thank you, Jesus, that you are committed to making me whole. Help me to be as patient with myself as you are.”

from wau.org

Greatness

What is man that you should be mindful of him? (Psalm 8:5) 

Have you ever tried to count the stars but found the task overwhelming? Or as a student, did you gaze into a microscope and become amazed at all the activity in a single drop of pond water? We truly do live in an amazing, complex world!

The more we discover about the universe, the more insignificant one human being can seem. But don’t forget each of these amazing discoveries was made by human beings. It shows us that the intricate working of our own minds is just as astounding as the celestial or cellular choreography going on around us. It shows that as amazing as the world is, as awe inspiring as our discoveries can be, our own human capacity for growth, knowledge, and development is even more amazing.

Today’s Responsorial Psalm gives us a glimpse of who we are and what we can accomplish. The psalmist rejoices that God has made us “little less than the angels” and crowned us with “glory and honor” (Psalm 8:6). He also proclaims that God is “mindful” of us (8:5). He keeps his eye on us, not because he is looking for any misstep, but because he takes delight in us. He enjoys seeing all that we can accomplish. Now that’s expansive! 

This sounds so wonderful—too wonderful, in fact, when we consider our sins and our limitations. “How can God rejoice in me? I have too many problems; I’m nowhere near the kind of disciple I should be.” But that’s not how God sees you. He doesn’t look only at who you are right now; he also sees who you can become. He sees the person he has created you to be: kind, generous, pure, humble, and faithful. And through his Holy Spirit, he has given you the ability to overcome any obstacle you may encounter. 

Remember this truth: God always takes the long view. Remember it when you have the chance to return hostility with kindness. Remember it when you feel the impulse to invite someone to church or pay an unexpected compliment to a coworker. Remember it when you are tempted to respond with anger instead of patience. 

God has made you for great things; don’t ever be afraid to reach for them!

“Father, your majesty shines through everything you have made—even me!” 

from wau.org