The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
A few weeks ago I recorded an episode of a podcast with a friend. She asked me to share a time when God had performed a miracle in my life.
When I was in 8th grade my parents got divorced. It was a long time coming but hurt nevertheless. I was lost and completely heartbroken. When I started high school I hoped to mend my broken heart by finding meaning and purpose for my life. I came from a non-practicing Catholic family so I didn’t believe that God existed at the time but I did believe that there had to be a reason that I was on this Earth and I was going to find it.
Like those in the first reading for today I was deaf and blind to the truth that God was attempting to speak into my life. Popularity and the desire to be wanted had consumed me to the point of expulsion. Two years after starting high school I was finishing my Sophomore year and got a phone call that I had been kicked out of my school. In my search for meaning I had lied to everyone around me. I was failing all of my classes, every report card had been forged , and every hangout with my friends turned into a crazy party. I had lost the trust of my parents and the purpose I had created for my life. I felt alone and scared.
In today's first reading the Lord encourages us to be brave and that He will come to save us. "Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, He comes with vindication; With divine recompense He comes to save you.” (Isaiah 35:4)
The following month after being kicked out of high school l I was invited to a retreat at my local parish. Feeling like I had nothing to lose, I said yes because I was desperate. Still desperate to find meaning for my life. On that retreat on a random weekend in October of 2010 our miraculous God opened my eyes and revealed my purpose. Little did I know that following that little miracle of a yes; I would find a beautiful community in my local youth group, surrender my life to Christ, attend a Catholic college, and become a Director of Youth Ministry.
With so much noise and craziness in the world today we can lean into this truth. The truth that God is calling us to be brave. He is calling us to give Him our yes and let Him do the rest. For our God is a God of miracles.
Chenele Shaw is a former youth minister and current young adult trying to live her life for Christ, frequent her therapist, and eat all the cheese! She desires to be her authentic self and help others as well. You can find her watching reality tv, going to confession, and updating her Spotify playlists. Follow her on Instagram and say hey!