SEPARATION ANXIETY

Romans 8:31-39; Ps 109 Save me, O Lord, in your mercy; Luke 13:31-35

The other day I had a parent come up to me to discuss one her children.  It seems this particular child is having a hard time adjusting to school.  In fact, she has a hard time watching momma leave her at school each morning.

We have several little ones that struggle with their first experience of school.

Instantly many exclaim the child is going through separation anxiety.

Perhaps we grow up and grow out of that anxiety of separation from our parents.  We adjust to life and we learn to get on by ourself.

We get use to making decision for ourselves and for our lives. In fact we are masters at thinking of ourselves and taking care of ourselves.

However, should we grow out or grow up in regards to separation from God.  One of the temptations we deal with  is just that, doing things apart from God's influence, God's law, God's direction and guidance.

Once we taste a little independence we have a tendency to keep going.

As Paul poses the question in today's first reading, "who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword."

Of course St. Paul's response is a bold "NO!"

Yet, my experience is when these things come in the lives of people who are faithful, they waver, they begin to doubt, they often times think that God has left them.

I often wonder why is that?

Maybe its because there is a lack of conviction.  We accept God's love on our terms instead of on all terms and through all circumstances.

Perhaps thats the true rub for us a people of faith.  We must refuse to set conditions on God's love and we must refuse to let the circumstances of our life determine whether or not God's love is active and present.

When in doubt look to the Cross: "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love ofGod in Christ Jesus our lord."

St. Paul is convinced!  Are we?

WE can sense this same conviction in Jesus as he hears of the warning that Herod wants to kill him.  Jesus continues to move forward and he stays true to who he is regardless of the gloom that encloses in around him.

The circumstances do not determine his fidelity!  Jesus response simple, "Yet, I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day…"

This too can become our response to life's twist and turns, "yet, we must continue on our way, today, tomorrow, and the following day."