Sometimes we have to be patient - God’s timing is always perfect…..More times then not - “Its through the wound where the light enters”

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the first reading from Genesis the story of how Jacob wrestled all night with “a man”….After the epic battle the man called Jacob by another name - Israel....…....”Then some man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. When the man saw that he could not prevail over him, he struck Jacob’s hip at its socket, so that the hip socket was wrenched as they wrestled. The man then said, Let me go, for it is daybreak. But Jacob said, I will not let you go until you bless me. The man asked, What is your name? He answered, “Jacob.” Then the man said, You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob, but as Israel, because you have contended with divine and human beings and have prevailed”…….This story is to serve as an allegory showing us how God’s people constantly “wrestle” with God himself….Twisting the Truth to suit their wants and desires….I was educated by Jesuits and on my college campus there was a statue of Jacob wrestling with an Angel…At the time I did not know what the meaning of that statue was all about - But now I do!….One of the interesting things about the story of Jacob is, he does not give up the “fight” with God….”The man then said, Let me go, for it is daybreak. But Jacob said, I will not let you go until you bless me”……This is how we must be as well…Each and every one of us is flawed, but if we persevere and seek the Truth with an open heart, we will arrive where we have to be…So the question(s) today is - Are you searching the Truth?….Not “your truth” - But the Truth?…When obstacles are put in your way, do you “fight through them” and persevere?……We are told in this story from Genesis that after Jacob’s epic battle with God, he was left with a wound that caused him to limp - His hip was wounded…..........”When the man saw that he could not prevail over him, he struck Jacob’s hip at its socket, so that the hip socket was wrenched as they wrestled”…....Many times in life, especially when we are young, when we are “figuring things out”, we turn from God and are wounded, like Jacob…..The key is to learn from those moments - Jacob did learn and God rewarded him….This is why a statue of Jacob wrestling an Angel was on my college campus….Are you like Jacob?….Are you still “wrestling with God”?…..If you are - Know its a fight you can never win - God loves you too much to let you “win”

“From you let my judgment come; your eyes behold what is right. Though you test my heart, searching it in the night, though you try me with fire, you shall find no malice in me”

Years ago I was on a walking pilgrimage and there was a young high school student walking next to me….This young man and I struck up a conversation…He was not very happy to be on the pilgrimage - He told me his parents made him go and frankly he was rather angry about having to be on the pilgrimage….He went on to to tell me that soon he would go to college, that he had plans to go to med-school, and all this “Catholic-stuff” would be a thing of the past….As this young man told me this, I listened patiently and when he was through speaking I told him that I too was like him….And I too “wrestled” with with Catholic faith as a young man…And as a result, I made very bad choices - Which like Jacob in our story from Genesis - I was left with a “wound” - Sin wounds us - Never forget that!…I also told this young man, that through that “wound” God entered my life…..Many times people, like the story of the Prodigal Son in the New Testament have to “do it their way” only to get wounded and “figure things out” for themselves…My story that I told to this young man probably went in one ear and out the other but with God there are no coincidences…This kid was walking next to me on that pilgrimage for a reason….He was just like me when I was his age…He was another “Jacob” wrestling with God - As I was….We are told in Scripture something I always keep in mind when I see a friend or a loved one make a wrong choice and turn from God’s will and their Catholic faith….”I will go before you, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: I will ... make the crooked places straight”…….God works even in and through our bad choices…He gives us every opportunity to respond - To make things right…God speaks a language we can only understand and that “language” could very well be pain and suffering caused by drifting from His Will - But then it is up to us to respond…..And we have to respond - Why? - Because like our friend Jacob from the Old Testament - “Wrestling” with God is a battle you can not win - This is a great lesson in life to learn….The only loser who does not learn this valuable lesson is you……Those who learn this lesson thrive on this earth and frankly those who do not - Do not thrive….I hope and pray my young friend from that walking pilgrimage “figured it out” by now….How about you? - Have you “figured it out”?…Are you still wrestling with God?

“Hide me in the shadow of your wings. I in justice shall behold your face; on waking, I shall be content in your presence”

Today we heard the story of Jacob from the Old Testament…Jacob “battles with God”…..It is a timeless story and to a degree its everyone's story….The great St Augustine, who also “battled with God” only to “come out the other side of that battle” to become a saint famously said…........”The heart does not rest until it rests in thee”…I can argue all day about why its important to follow God’s will…I can tell you all the “facts” and “stories” as to why living your Catholic faith will only benefit you - That God gives and never takes…But lets be honest….Like my young friend on that walking pilgrimage - You will probably not listen to me….But God, who is a loving father and is known in literature as “the hound of heaven” will pursue you down every crooked road you walk…Sometimes we have to be patient - God’s timing is always perfect…..More times then not - “Its through the wound where the light enters”…………JMJ