So many come to the Church seeking the presence of God because of the lack of presence in their life. They feel lonely. So many elderly tell me that they listen to Catholic radio all day because they feel like they have a companion throughout the day. Early this morning, I read a tweet from Bishop Burbidge of Raleigh that read: "We pray for those who feel alone and share with them the truth of today's Gospel: God never forgets us and is always there to comfort us!"
The gospel starts off by Jesus telling us that the Father is working for us (Jn 5:17). Think of that if you are feeling lonely, abandoned, or depressed. Your God is working for you! He has not forgotten you. He has not abandoned you. At this very second as you read this, he is at work for you. You may not see the tangible results right now, but he has a plan that is unfolding for you. It's our job to go along with that plan. So I echo Bishop Burbidge's call to pray for those who feel alone. May they feel this day the warm embrace of their Father in heaven.
