Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

There are two obvious concepts talked about in our readings today. They are obvious because intellectually we know them to be true but often when we direct our own actions and thoughts and make a choice for this thing or that we somehow forget them.

The first concept is the all-seeing omnipotent nature of God. He sees every second of our life. He knows the darkest corners of our heart and mind and soul, even areas we don’t easily recognize. He knows us better than we know ourselves. That is why often our desires and prayers and wants and even needs in this life are not answered. For we do not know what we are asking many times. Or another way to put this is, we don’t know the outcome. We may not even see that we will fall if we get what we are asking, or others may.  Certainly, if we knew that prayers answered that led us to eventual sin and distance for God we would not want it. We know for example it is easier do those with few things to follow Jesus, than those who have abundance. Still, we want good things for ourselves and our families so we ask for them. Right?

We pray to God and if we are smart, we ask Mary to pray for us to. For it was through Mary that Jesus came into this world to reach us and it is a very good avenue to reach him by asking his mother to talk to her son.

The second concept that is stressed today is the absolute devastation sin has on us.

Sin, the choosing to not do the will of God, the straying from his teachings, the decision is to not live in his love but by reaching for things that are not for us…not for children of God, this sin immediately slams a barrier between us in God. He still loves us and wants to help us but the sinner finds the spirit of the Lord leaves him for the Holy Spirit cannot abide in a soul grasping at sin. Wisdom, the intuition and moments where we can feel Gods presence and hear his direction in our heart, leaves us too. Sin is powerful and ominous and dangerous and the longer we stay in sin the more we find ourselves further away from his blessings.

We are lost at sea. We are stumbling in the dark. We are children sitting alone surrounded by things that are not good for him and suffering anxiety and doubt and fear.

Today we are reminded that we are never alone but have a God who knows everything before we say it. He wants us to share our lives with him. Talk to him, pray for his help and know he is a living Father and we are his cherished child.

If we are not in a state of grace today it should be our priority to ask for forgiveness and seek the confessional at the first opportunity. Our lives depend on it. Anything that keeps us apart from God is poison for us. It should be dealt with as quickly and as seriously.

St Leo pray for us and help us to once again repent and return to a close relationship with our Father. Ask our Father in heaven to keep us and our families safe and full of his blessings. Pray God will remove anxiety from all of us as we give this day to Jesus Christ.