We should take time to remember what we do have, to be thankful; also, we should pray to God, who unceasingly desires to comfort us in our times of uncertainty. The Christmas season gave us hope not only for ourselves in our daily struggles, but also hope for the ones we have lost, that they have gone home to rest with God. It truly is a miracle that God reveals himself to us over and over in his son, Jesus. Let us remember to glorify God for the miracles in our lives. Miracles, whether big or small, give us hope to move forward in God’s work.
On the subject of miracles, I return to the idea of works. Too often, we look for miracles to rescue us from ourselves, for signs of God’s power to intervene in nature. I am guilty of both. The last few weeks have been busy for me; some days seemed all too short with everything I have had to do. As I was finishing my thesis and in the midst of meeting deadlines, I remember praying for a miracle. Sure, this was selfish, but it was for something with which I was overwhelmed. Although I did not feel as though God was there, looking back, I know he was definitely there, helping me. We all ask for miracles and often we think of them as being some grand act of God for all to see. Miracles happen every day to everyone. However insignificant they may seem to some, they may be great to others.
Miracles bring people closer to God in the changing of their hearts. The subtle turning may not be physically visible, but as hearts change so, too, will thoughts and actions. What the recently completed season of hope did was show us changed hearts and how to change hearts. Let us continue to do so.
(Soukhaphon, 28, belongs to St. Michael Parish, Milwaukee. He works as a part-time admissions counselor for Messmer Catholic Schools, and recently graduated with master’s degree in geography from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. He can be reached at soukak7@yahoo.com.)
