August 9, 2009 19th Sunday, Year B
When It All Seems Too Much
Susan has had a long and distinguished legal career. She began working for a high- profile legal firm in
the city. She worked extremely hard, and possessed a sharp legal mind and eloquent communication
skills which she used brilliantly in court.
But in all this, Susan's greatest gift was the way she worked with her clients and offered them support.
They appreciated the time she gave them, the way she listened to them and explained things clearly and
simply.
Over time, Susan's effectiveness came to the notice of the firm's partners. She was invited to take on
some of the more complex and public legal cases handled by the firm. As her bosses put it, "high profile
clients equal big money!"
Susan was elated. Her efforts had been rewarded and she threw herself wholeheartedly into this new
challenge.
But after a few years of working for the "big end of town", Susan felt empty and exhausted. She now
had few friends and no social life. Her life revolved around working for difficult people who used their
money and influence to make her life miserable.
It was too much. She wanted out. She just didn't care anymore. Things seemed hopeless. She'd lost all
confidence in the law. So, when she walked away from her position and its financial rewards, and no
longer felt any passion for justice, her future was uncertain.
Elijah in today's first reading was also worn out. He'd had enough. After an apparently successful career
defending the Lord God, and opposing the rival cults of Baal with their priests and political influence,
Elijah could take no more.
The journey ahead seemed too much for him. Elijah longed to die. He could see no future. Elijah found
himself in a time of religious crisis.
But the Lord who had called Elijah to be a prophet came to his aid. The Lord provided for his needs
and by means of a meal of bread and water, gave him enough sustenance to undertake an arduous
desert trek to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Horeb - an alternative name in some Old Testament passages for Sinai - is where Elijah hoped to renew
his trust in God, and to recapture a sense of the beauty and strength of God's continual presence in his
life.
Returning to Susan: after a lot of prayer, reflection and help from others, she was able to rediscover her
passion for justice and belief in the Law, and feel the energy it gave her. She joined Legal Aid, and in
that humbler capacity, worked for ordinary folk by providing support, by offering a listening ear, and a
voice to speak on their behalf.
The stories of Elijah and Susan can inspire and encourage us today. Like them, we too can find
ourselves worn out by the past, ground down by the present and unable to face the future.
What do we do? Where do we go? To whom do we turn for help?
Our help comes from the Lord. With confidence we cast our cares upon Jesus who is the bread come
down from heaven, and who will sustain us in the journey of life.
David Hare CSsR
© Redemptorists 2009
**********************************************
When It All Seems Too Much
Susan has had a long and distinguished legal career. She began working for a high- profile legal firm in
the city. She worked extremely hard, and possessed a sharp legal mind and eloquent communication
skills which she used brilliantly in court.
But in all this, Susan's greatest gift was the way she worked with her clients and offered them support.
They appreciated the time she gave them, the way she listened to them and explained things clearly and
simply.
Over time, Susan's effectiveness came to the notice of the firm's partners. She was invited to take on
some of the more complex and public legal cases handled by the firm. As her bosses put it, "high profile
clients equal big money!"
Susan was elated. Her efforts had been rewarded and she threw herself wholeheartedly into this new
challenge.
But after a few years of working for the "big end of town", Susan felt empty and exhausted. She now
had few friends and no social life. Her life revolved around working for difficult people who used their
money and influence to make her life miserable.
It was too much. She wanted out. She just didn't care anymore. Things seemed hopeless. She'd lost all
confidence in the law. So, when she walked away from her position and its financial rewards, and no
longer felt any passion for justice, her future was uncertain.
Elijah in today's first reading was also worn out. He'd had enough. After an apparently successful career
defending the Lord God, and opposing the rival cults of Baal with their priests and political influence,
Elijah could take no more.
The journey ahead seemed too much for him. Elijah longed to die. He could see no future. Elijah found
himself in a time of religious crisis.
But the Lord who had called Elijah to be a prophet came to his aid. The Lord provided for his needs
and by means of a meal of bread and water, gave him enough sustenance to undertake an arduous
desert trek to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Horeb - an alternative name in some Old Testament passages for Sinai - is where Elijah hoped to renew
his trust in God, and to recapture a sense of the beauty and strength of God's continual presence in his
life.
Returning to Susan: after a lot of prayer, reflection and help from others, she was able to rediscover her
passion for justice and belief in the Law, and feel the energy it gave her. She joined Legal Aid, and in
that humbler capacity, worked for ordinary folk by providing support, by offering a listening ear, and a
voice to speak on their behalf.
The stories of Elijah and Susan can inspire and encourage us today. Like them, we too can find
ourselves worn out by the past, ground down by the present and unable to face the future.
What do we do? Where do we go? To whom do we turn for help?
Our help comes from the Lord. With confidence we cast our cares upon Jesus who is the bread come
down from heaven, and who will sustain us in the journey of life.
David Hare CSsR
© Redemptorists 2009
**********************************************
