Recently, there was a nature show on television about a mama bear that gave birth to two cubs. One cub died shortly after birth. Three weeks later, the mother bear also died. The remaining cub was now an orphan.
The little orphaned cub was an easy meal for a hungry-looking mountain lion that began stalking him. Fortunately, a giant male black bear was nearby, watching from a distance.
The orphaned cub attached himself to the big bear. The big bear taught the little cub how to catch fish, scratch his back against a tree and defend himself by standing on his hind legs and letting out a growl. The big bear never let the orphaned cub out of his sight.
One day, the mountain lion was ready to pounce. The cub stood up on his hind legs and tried to let out a mighty growl but could only manage a tiny squeak. To the cub’s surprise, the mountain lion suddenly ran off in the opposite direction.
What the little cub didn’t realize was that the giant bear was standing on his hind legs right behind him. The big bear never left the cub and was always watching him.
Like the big bear, God never abandons us. We are always in the presence of God.
When I was a student at the De La Salle Christian Brothers High School, we would start every class with a prayer, and the opening was always the same: “Let us remember that we are in the presence of God.”
At the Last Supper, Jesus was preparing His disciples for His betrayal and crucifixion. He knew it would be devastating and traumatic for them. He wanted them to know they would not be alone. “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of Truth.” Then Jesus makes this powerful promise, “I will not leave you orphans.”
I once did an online search for famous orphans and read the stories of many outstanding people who accomplished remarkable things despite being orphaned. The list included Eleanor Roosevelt, Edgar Allen Poe, Johann Sebastian Bach, Nelson Mandela, Herbert Hoover, Ray Charles, Babe Ruth, Leo Tolstoy and many others. As I read their stories, I could see that God was with them.
Jesus said, “I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.”
When the teenage son of the former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy committed suicide, the press asked Dungy how he coped with the tragedy. His response was immediate:
“Christ promised us He would never leave us orphans and that He would always be with us. I believe what Christ said. His promise helps me cope with my son’s tragic suicide.”
Jesus said, “I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.”
So, when did Jesus come to you yesterday? When did you remember you were in the presence of God? And where have you met God today?
I met God in little Jose, whom I baptized yesterday morning and in the couple, I married yesterday afternoon. I met God when a parishioner shared with me that he had just been diagnosed with incurable cancer. Early this morning, I met God as I sat quietly before the tabernacle. Later, I met God in the stranger who visited our church for the first time. We talked, and that stranger is now a friend.
The other day, some parents told me that when they tuck their small children into bed at night, instead of asking, “How was your day?” or “What did you learn today?” they ask, "Where did you meet God today?”
The children reply: “A teacher who helped me,” or “A coach who encouraged me when I made a mistake,” or “The friend I helped on the playground,” or even, “I met God through the great meal you cooked tonight.”
Then the parents share where they met God that day: “I found God in your mother when she told me she loved me,” or “I met God when I took our neighbor to the doctor,” or “I saw God when I gave spare change to someone in need.”
What a wonderful way to end a day!
Jesus said, “I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you.”
Like the big bear, God never abandons us.
Let us remember that we are always in the presence of God.
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