For What It's Worth by Erin

SPOILER ALERT: God alone has the answer! Let’s begin with a question: How much is enough?

One would think that if we ask that question of an average, intelligent and levelheaded American that we would receive an equally intelligent and levelheaded answer.
 
But consider a visual that all but the blind have seen, namely, the empty shelves where toilet paper once lived in our neighborhood grocery or Costco. This could be bread or whatever we think is important. (For me it’s cream for my coffee!)

Apparently, what enough is varies widely depending on who I ask. Lest I sound “judgie,” that is also true of myself, by the way! When things are totally out of my control, I control the things I can, even if it is ridiculous! (Ask my husband!)
 
So instead, let’s consider what Bishop Barron calls the “Loop of Grace”. It all begins with Grace and it all ends with Grace. We’ve spoken of what Grace is, that which is freely given to all of us from our generous God. And the paradox is that we can’t “have it”, we can simply receive it, use it, share it and give it away, and then we get more, and we give that away, and God continues to provide.

The Bible tells this story over and over again. Read and consider the story of the widow of Zarepath (1 Kings 17:7-16), we have time! The moral of that story is when we don’t only think of ourselves, God continues to have our backs. That is not a promise of prosperity or perfection, but rather, a promise of “enoughness”. As 1 Peter 4:10 tells us, “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever grace each of you have received.”
 
As we are forced to hunker down, let’s continue to recognize the loop of Grace in our own lives. Let’s not be so insular that we close ourselves off from what we can do for others, even if only for those closest in proximity to us. Pray for our parish leadership, and our President and elected officials to do the right thing, always trusting that God is in control and has a plan for each of us.
 
May God make all of us effective and generous in these uncertain times, in whatever way He provides us with to serve! Amen!
 
Missing seeing you all at Mass! +