Facing Life’s Challenges

by Deacon Michael Bickerstaff | October 2, 2011 12:01 am

Do We Experience Peace in our Lives?

Do you need to slow down and recharge from time to time? I sure know I often do. “They” always said that when the kids are grown and out of college, the pressures of life would ease up. It isn’t true! Thankfully, we never had a really difficult time with our kids and I am proud to say that they have matured into the very best of adults – that should be no surprise to us because they were always good children.

No, the anxieties many of us face go beyond the day-to-day pressures of marriage, career, children and preparing for retirement, as the world defines these challenges. Or maybe it is better stated that these anxieties arise from how we approach these pressures. Each of us can probably see that this is true just by looking back at the course and events of our lives.

Whether we are faced with a serious illness, a death of a loved one, or something less serious – do we experience peace in the midst of the difficulty or are our hearts troubled beyond measure?

I have to smile when I think back to one of the “less serious” events in my life years ago. We had decided to enroll our daughter in a new, private, Catholic high school when she graduated from middle school. My daughter was not particularly pleased with me – she had been looking forward to going to a different high school; the one to which all her friends were going – and I had my own qualms. How would she adapt to the new school? Would she make good friends? Would she do well? And the school was only beginning its first year – would it be a good school? And where in the world would I get all the money for tuition, books and other costs? The high school cost more than most state universities!

I am happy to say that everything worked out very well for her, but at the time of the decision, I did not have real peace and peace did not follow when everything went well. Why? Because life has a way of quickly presenting the next challenge and the day-to-day pressures of living do not often take a break. Although it is true that we often allow these daily pressures and challenges to wear us down, there is something more fundamental that truly robs us of the peace we seek.

Do We Trust God?

Too often we feel that events control us and so we seek to control the events. Now, I want to make clear that it is our responsibility to manage our earthly affairs with diligence and hard work. What I believe far too many of us lack as we go about living is an abiding trust and reliance on God.

When faced with difficulties, do we immediately ask God’s help or do we turn to Him only when all our efforts seem to have been spent? Do we see God as our first and constant help or only our last recourse? If the answer is the latter, then we are more than likely moving farther from His Divine care and protection each day without realizing it. And then peace never comes; only the next challenge to be confronted.

God’s Plan and Preparation for Us

In the first reading and Gospel from the Mass of the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A), we are presented with the image of the vineyard and those who work it. In the gospel (Matthew 21:33-46), Jesus tells the parable of the Vineyard and the Wicked Vinedressers. In the reading from the Old Testament (Isaiah 5:1-7), the prophet Isaiah tells of the Vineyard of the Lord (his friend). We are familiar with both these texts and know that the primary sense is directed to turning away from the Lord by Israel and the treatment of the prophets and the Son when God sent them to call the Chosen People to account. But there is rich meaning and application for us today in these words.

Read both texts and reflect on the reassuring truths they contain. God, Himself, prepared the vineyards – He chose a fertile ground, tilled it, cleared it of stones and planted the choicest of vines. He built a watchtower and provided a vine press. These are images rich in meaning, but I want to focus, not on the individual images, but rather on the big picture as it might apply to us. In one sense, we are the branches of that vine. Everything that we need that is of any importance has been provided for us by God. He is with us, yet he is “gone” from us in the sense that we are free to choose how we grow.

God is good and wants only the good for us. He has left us to choose the good. And it is in choosing the good that we find purpose and peace.

St. Paul, writing in the second reading (Philippians 4:6-9) offers us the God’s perfect words for living in this stressful life:

“Brothers and sisters:
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

“Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence
and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
Keep on doing what you have learned and received.”

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