God is Our Champion – Reflection by Fr. Pat York

“But the Lord is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.” Jeremiah 20:11

It’s uniquely human to struggle and to doubt.

To go through life without occasions of doubt, to go through life without struggling against the stumble, to go throughout life without an occasional lingering thought… Is God truly with me? …would indicate either that the individual has a profound infusion of supernatural grace, or that the individual goes throughout life with his/her head stuck either in the clouds the sand.

God has given us an intellect and free will that ultimately is our guide in our relationship with him and in our relationship with others.

A Christian person who lives a life centered upon the will of God the Father, and who strives everyday to be a faithful member of the Church, very well may experience some form of lingering doubt and persecution.  We may find ourselves surrounded by people who want us to stumble and fall. But as Jeremiah states…they will not triumph!  The reason why?   Because the Lord is with us!   He is our champion!  He is our strength! He is our Easter Joy!

Fr. Pat York is a priest of Diocese of Wichita and Vice Rector/Dean of Students at Conception Seminary College