Memorial of Saint Benedict, abbot

A Parent’s Lament:

Where did we go wrong? Our babies do not come with an operating manual or a warranty. Parents wonder what will become of this infant in their arms. Or ‘What were we thinking!’ Regardless of any emotional reaction at first, there is always hope that everything will be ok.

We taught them to walk, cradled them in our arms, fed them, called the children; they didn’t come. Warn them against life’s pitfalls; they jump into the pit. And they hardly notice.

So says the prophet Hosea, speaking in human terms, God’s words to his Israelite children. As a loving father, God, unlike the human parent who feels and expresses anger over misbegotten children, will not give in to his anger nor destroy us.

Here is our God, and we are His children. These are not throw-away words. Just as we surmise, we may have mom’s eyes, dad’s physique, or grandma’s green thumb, so we ask how we take ‘take after’ God. After all, our physical and spiritual identity is sourced in his image and likeness. So, how do we acknowledge God’s life within us?

Help is all around.

The entire catalog of saints is ready to guide us, particularly Saint Benedict, who nourished a liturgical devotion formed by prayer, work, and study, so our day is filled with acclamation that God is present in our love and care for others. Our scripture writers repeatedly insist that God is not detached from our lives. Would that we can say the same.

Prayer

I will instruct you and show the way you should walk; give you counsel with my eye upon you. (Psalm 32:8)