The Lie & God's Truth

Father Pat Hoare, USA

Before my encounter with Jesus

It's the day after Thanksgiving, 2019. Two days before, I learned of the false accusation that, literally and spiritually, turned my life upside down. At that moment, I had no idea of exactly how bad it would get. I only knew one thing for sure: I didn't know what to do. I was confused, paralyzed. I was supposed to be with my family that day but was told not to come. I knew about a perpetual adoration chapel a few miles from where I was visiting a friend, and so I went there to pray. Sitting in silence before the Lord, I "heard" a simple thought, one that has stayed with me these past 5 years: "You will learn to trust Me more and to love Me more." 

Things got bad after that. Really bad. The next 10 days I lived in terror wondering what was going to happen, even as I tried to continue my parish ministry as though nothing was wrong. First Sunday of Advent. First Reconciliation for 500 children. My birthday. A couple of Christmas parties. The funeral for the bishop's father. Second Sunday of Advent. Immaculate Conception. Then the atomic bomb dropped. Devastation, as far as my inner eye could see. I was a dead man walking for the months that followed. It was difficult to speak to anyone, to see or to be seen by others. There are still days and situations like that, although there are fewer now, or maybe I've just learned to deal with them better.

I had a choice to make in that moment. I could run to the Lord and cling to Him, or I could curse Him for allowing it to happen. Or I could just deny He existed at all. I had been driven into the desert, where I would either find Him or dismiss Him as a cruel lie. In the darkness, the dryness, the emptiness, I prayed. "Lord, help me. Lord, save me. Lord, show your face." I still pray these words today, clinging to the promise that I am learning to trust Him more and to love Him more. The full story has yet to be told.

My encounter with Jesus through scripture

This is not a "woe is me" story. In fact, it is your story, one you have lived, will live, or are living. It is the story of every human person who has ever lived.

It is the story of the people of Israel. Moses outlines the celebration of the feasts of First fruits and Weeks, when the people would offer portions of the barley and wheat harvests in thanksgiving for God's blessings. But these sacrifices are not just an expression of gratitude for a good crop. Moses says they should pray:

"My father was a wandering Aramean who went down to Egypt with a small household and lived there as an alien... When the Egyptians maltreated and oppressed us, imposing hard labor upon us, we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and he heard our cry... He brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand and outstretched arm, with terrifying power, with signs and wonders; and bringing us into this country, he gave us this land flowing with milk and honey." Dt 26:5b, 6-7a ,8-9

The Hebrews first encountered the Lord through their father Abraham. They thought they knew Him, until their world collapsed, leading to 400 years of slavery. They could have abandoned the Lord, but, instead, they cried out in desperation to Him. They were driven into the desert, for forty long years, where they learned to trust Him more and to love Him more. The full story has yet to be told. 

The book of Matthew recounts Jesus's ordeal in the desert after His Baptism. He is led by the Spirit to a place of hunger, desolation, and disorientation. Satan is ready and waiting for Him there. He first encourages Jesus to stop relying on His Father, and to take matters into His own powerful hands: "command this stone to become bread!" (Luke 4:3). Satan then says, "There is a shortcut to happiness! I have the silver bullet. Take it!" When that fails, Satan tries to shame Jesus into forcing His Father's hand. In all three cases, Jesus chooses to stay on the path on which the Father has sent Him. In His humanity, He stands in our place, helping us to trust and to love the Father more. Without the Cross, there would be no resurrection. Jesus invites us to be a part of His story, and so the full story has yet to be told.

The contemporary hymn "On Eagles' Wings" is based on the words of Psalm 91, our psalm response for today. The psalmist encourages us with the promise that, by clinging to the Lord, we will overcome all the trials and temptations that are thrown at us. St. Paul tells us 

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Rom 10:9

The fruits my encounter with Jesus

I often forget, in our pride and self-centeredness, that we are part of a larger Body, and that, as members, we must support and even call the other members of the Body to faith. I do that most powerfully through our personal witness of faith in the face of unspeakable trials. The Lord promises us victory, if we cling to Him. Every one of us will face moments when, with nowhere else to turn, we either throw ourselves into His arms, or reject Him as a liar, a fraud, or nothing at all. The full story is waiting to be told, because the Lord calls you to tell it.

If you had the opportunity to receive more of the Holy Spirit in your life, would you want to?

Yes