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THE boy became nervous as he tried to hear his father's footsteps walking away but he couldn't because of the soft earth terrain which muffled sound. As night fell, the boy became terrified because he could hear all kinds of strange noises and sounds of wild animals but through it all the boy remained silent. He felt exposed and afraid as the wind got stronger and blew across the grass and earth, shaking the stump he sat on. And yet he sat stoically, never touching the blindfold around his eyes and face. MERCIFULLY after the cold, scary night he felt the morning rays of sun upon his face through the blindfold. The horrific night was over, and he could feel the sun cast its warmth over him as he removed the blindfold. It was then that he saw his father sitting on the stump next to him with a proud smile on his face, ready to make the announcement that his son was now a man. Unbeknown to the son, the father had been at watch the entire night and the boy was never alone in the darkness. AS Catholic Christians, know that we too are never forsaken. Like the young boy who felt deserted, we must remember that our heavenly Father is steadily keeping watch over us, no matter where or who we are. He is there, protecting, strengthening, and loving us, standing beside us with the concern of a mighty but eternal Father, through the good and the bad times in our lives. And so, when all our worries, our despairs and earthly cares drives and threaten our spiritual stability, it is then that we should remember we are not alone. We must cling to the encouraging words of Joshua 1:5, which tells us: "I will always be with you; I will never abandon you". MONSIGNOR Dennis Clark, Ph.D. (http://catholicexchange.com/i-will-never-be-alone-3/) has this to say: One of the greatest fears that a human being can experience is the fear of being abandoned by family and friends and left to live one’s life all alone. Prison guards know this when they place recalcitrant inmates in solitary confinement and torturers know it too when they need their victims to confess to fictitious crimes. To be cut off from human contact is immensely painful, but it pales when compared to being cut off from God. And yet that is the daily experience of too many of God’s children, wandering about this earth with no sense of any larger purpose or destiny and no vision beyond the blank wall of death. What a tragedy, and how unnecessary it is! "JESUS long ago spoke for us all when He said, “I can never be alone; the Father is with Me.” He is with us, within us, always — healing, comforting, strengthening, enlightening, encouraging, and guiding. He is with us always, and we’ll never be alone — not in the deepest cell or on the darkest night." Monsignor Dennis Clark is the founding pastor of The Church of the Nativity and Nativity School in Rancho Santa Fe, California. He holds a doctorate in History from The Catholic University of America and previously served as Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of San Diego. His previous publications include a three-year collection of Sunday homilies and an American Catholic Church history textbook, "Our Catholic Roots". THE ultimate question is this: Do we stand alone in this world? Does God watch from a distance to see if we can make it through without His help? The answer is easy, for God promises over and over throughout the bible that He will never leave us. Why? Because He loves us. He loves us so much that He sent His Son to be crucified for our sake and the ultimate price would be paid for our sins at a price you and I could never afford. He cleansed us with His blood on the cross, made us acceptable to His Father and promised us that one day we would live eternally with our heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus promised all of us who believe in Him that when He returned to His Father, He would send the Holy Spirit to live within us. The Holy Spirit He spoke of warns us of the impending dangers of sin, and of straying off the path of righteousness. Always know that it is the Holy Spirit, our conscience, Who whispers loudly to us to "Stop, Pray, and keep on the path leading to eternal life", whenever we stray from it. AND so, we can rest on God's eternal word when He promises to never leave us. He tells us in Isaiah 41:13 "For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." and again in Matthew 28:20 "lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." --Matthew 28:20 DO not let the world take away your joy of knowing and having God at your side. When you get caught up in life’s miseries that outshouts the peace God wants us to have, do not forget we have the antidote for anything life tosses our way for we have access to the most powerful advocates; our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ Who have promised never to leave us. Instead of being crushed by fear and worries, spend time in prayer, calling on the Holy Name of Jesus, our intercessor to the Father. This is the time to carry life’s crosses and put them into His powerful hands….. this is the moment we let God shine sunlight into the dark corners of the life we sometimes fearfully face. BE strong and courageous, walking by faith, knowing our Lord has promised us He will always be with us. Know that He never lies. He has not given us a spirit of fear but of power. Satan will try to win our souls by all means but if we listen with faith, we will hear God's whisper through His mighty and Holy Spirit... "Never will I leave you: Never will I forsake you" Hebrews 13:5-6."
BE NOT AFRAID
You shall cross the barren desert, but you shall not die of thirst.
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