As a human, in my heart, I need to know that there is life after life. I need to have faith that God did not create me, only to desert me at my grave. Yes, I have strong hope in a future resurrection, where I will see God face to face and be re-united with my loved ones.

However, today’s Gospel reminds me that “He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living.” God loves me and is present and active in my life now. I am called to see His love everywhere AND to respond to His love. Awareness of the beauty and wonder of the enormity of God’s love for me and millions of others is overwhelming!

In response, I am a messenger of God’s love. My personal challenge is to help teenagers become aware of how much God loves each of them and to open their eyes to His abundant presence in their daily lives. If I live up to my task, teens will begin to recognize God’s provisions each day as they learn gratitude for their gifts from God and pay those gifts forward in return.

When I open my eyes, and begin each day noticing just a few of God’s innumerable gifts to me, my enjoyment of life and awareness of my blessings skyrockets! My life doesn’t need spectacular confirmation, but spectacular commitment! When I have difficult days, God obviously believes that I have enough raw faith to push through them. And when I grasp God’s hand of forgiveness, I feel His grace.

I don’t need a flock of angels or a quick trip to heaven and back to realize that God dwells within me...right here...right now. He sent Christ to shed His blood to prove His total commitment to us all. Jesus never doubted God’s love, even for a moment. May you delight yourself in the glory of God’s presence and be overwhelmed by His love!
 

In Christ,