With the heat of summer upon us, and Memorial Day and Fourth of July behind us, we are really and truly in the good old summer time. Fans, air conditioners, barbeques and family gatherings are the order of the day. So here are a couple of thoughts for the summer:
Everyone is commenting on the lack of rain this year. The lawns are brown and the farmers are rightly worried. What a reality check for our industrialized and modern mentality. Because of scientific advances covering the last centuries, we can take for granted a way of life that was previously unthinkable, and in many parts of the world still is.
Consider the constant availability of fresh water, food and successful care for our medical and dental problems. Because we don’t have to struggle to provide such necessities as the human race has had to do since our first parents strolled in the garden, it’s all too easy to begin to trust our human ingenuity. The prideful error of Adam and Eve who tried to wrest from God and take to themselves the power of life and death and the rule over all of creation still lurks in the human soul.
The people of Israel time and again got so comfortable with themselves that they turned away from God who led them out of Egypt. It is an all too common temptation to think that by human effort we can create heaven on earth.
Just then, we are confronted with the reality of God’s dominion over the world, as well as our own powerlessness. Rain ceases, or, as recently happened on the east coast, too much comes, accompanied by too much wind. Countries and regions still grapple with famine when drought strikes and agriculture can’t keep up.
These are reminders to us to maintain our humility and our trust in God. We are ultimately God’s creatures, passing through this world for only a short time against the perspective of eternity. We must not let the joys and the human successes of this world distract us from our unfailing devotion to Christ and to the Church as our way to salvation.
It is a sign of spiritual health when we acknowledge God’s power over us and over creation.
The summer season often presents another test to our Catholic faith as well. It involves our weekly attendance at Mass.
How sad it is to hear (all too frequently) some say, “We didn’t get to Mass that week because we were on vacation.” I suspect we have all heard the response, “Well, God doesn’t take a vacation from you, why should you take a vacation from Him?”
But the test of faith is really deeper and more beautiful. If God is truly at the center of our life, our love for and attendance at Mass will be a testimony of our devotion.
No one is held to what is impossible. Certainly there are some vacation situations where there simply is no Mass to be had. But in many cases, if we made the effort, if we planned ahead for something that really is at the center of our lives and our faith (like Sunday Mass) we could fulfill our obligation even on vacation.
And especially for families with children, Mass during a family vacation is a particular sign of confirmation and emphasis of the value of attending the Eucharist that they learn in school or CCD all year round.
So far it has been a hot, dry summer. But still and all, with the eyes of faith, we cannot fail to see God’s presence and His love each day and in each of the four seasons. Even in the summer, He is the center of our life.