Hear the message from the readings of this Sunday: "Jesus is the ANSWER to all your needs." Isaiah tells the Israelites in the first reading to stop wasting their time and money on things that do not really answer their problems (see Is. 55:1-3). The 16th verse of our responsorial psalm says "The hand of the Lord feeds; he answers all our needs". That hand of the Lord is the help that God gives us. When someone gives you a helping hand, it means you receive assistance, a gift, a grace of that person. The helping hand of the Lord is Jesus, the gift or the grace of God given to us for our life in the world. Jesus, then, is the answer to our every need in the world.

     Why is our world like this? Why are our young people dying unnaturally? Why are we losing our jobs, going bankrupt, feeling disappointed, depressed? Why do we still have discrimination in all areas of life: churches, government, job places, families, schools, sports, business, etc.? Why do we still have apathy of ourselves, racism, sexism, regionalism, abuse, violence? Why do we still have fraud in corporate institutions? Why do we still have infidelity: spouses cheating on each other, and why do people still lie in their relationship with others. Why are children still rebellious? What makes them prefer throwing their lives away rather than learn how to be diligent, dignified, respectful and respectable? Why do they choose against education?

     The simple answer here is evident! It is because we have been spending our money, time and energy on everything but the one thing that satisfies: JESUS! We spend our whole life chasing what can only produce all the things mentioned above. We get those worthless things, but they produce new worthless desires in us, making us keep on chasing worthless thing after worthless thing. We need to stop!!! Look for Jesus!!! Oh yes he is real, in the Bible and your quiet time and meditation. Learn to hear him speak to you*.be attentive to what you say, think and do and what is happening in your life, family, city, church, job, etc. Learn to see him in your spouse, friend, pastor, children, parents, boss, co-worker, etc. And when you find him; when he is real to you, all those questions of yours will be answered and you will be satisfied beyond your imagination. Everything will then become meaningful and good: you will be living in heaven, no matter who you are and what you have.