Reflection for the 4th Sunday of Lent
by Mary Bartek, Notre Dame Associate
Reflections on the recent floods in the Midwest makes me recall the stories in the Bible starting from the time of Noah and his Ark after the flood water subsided, Genesis, Chapter 9; 12-17 And this, God said, “is the sign of the covenant which I now make between myself and you and every living creature with you for all ages to come: I now set my bow in the clouds and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I gather the clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, I shall recall the covenant between myself and you and every living creature, in a word all living things, and never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all living things. When the bow is in the clouds I shall see it and call to mind the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth, that is, all living things.” “That, God told Noah, is the sign of the covenant I have established between myself and all living things on earth.”
Even when the waters of the Platte River, the Missouri River and many other small streams and creeks flowed and spread devastation over the lands of the Midwest and the heartache that took place when homes and other properties were washed away in the blink of an eye we can still look for the rainbow in God’s promise. Our lives often take unexpected diversions in many ways; we can always rely on God’s promise of taking care of us. Matthew 6: 26 “Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they are?”
Despite all the weather that we have experienced of late and all the changes that have taken place we can remain hopeful to the joy of spring and the relaxation of the summer seasons. As a farm wife, I have come to appreciate each season with the good and bad that it brings. God has many promises that we can look forward to. The most is that at the end of this life He has prepared a place for us. John 14: 1-3 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” In the meantime, keep looking for the rainbows and try not to worry about what is next.