Prayers for Oklahoma!

Our thoughts and prayers this morning are with the community of Moore, Oklahoma as they begin the healing and clean up process in the wake of the devastating tornado on May 20. Many areas have been dealing with severe weather, including our own this past weekend, but to see the devastation and loss of life is heartbreaking. As one reporter said, there is only so much that you can see through a television tube, but to be on the ground here really shows the magnitude and impact of this event. Another person with a home video simply said, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away"! Some of the people that television reporters talked to spoke of prayer and faith. Those are the gifts that sustain us in our journey, especially when we encounter trials and tribulations. I would also refer you to scripture, especially Sirach 2:1-11, which is the first reading for today's Mass. The caption before the passage says very simply, "Prepare yourself for trials." The conclusion to the first paragraph gives us another gift that we need, "Trust God and God will help you; trust in him, and he will direct your way; keep his fear and grow old therein." No matter what we encounter in life: personal, spiritual, emotional, natural disaster, etc., we need our faith, our prayer life, and trust. Sometimes things are easier said than done, but we cannot give up or lose hope. We keep trying and with God's grace we will succeed. We turn our prayers and support to the community of Moore! May God bless them and grant them the faith, strength, hope, and trust to endure and re-build!