In both readings for today the question is posed: what do I get out of my relationship with God? In the book of Judges when the angel appeared Gideon said to him, “My Lord, if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?’ Reminds me of a story about a grown son whose mother refused to give him $1000. He pouted, “You never do anything for me.” She exploded, “I carried you in my womb for nine months; I nursed you for two years; I fed you and clothed you; I cared for you when you were sick; I saw that we went to the best schools so you could get a good job. That’s what I did for you.” To which he responded, “Yeah, but what have you done for me lately.” Gideon pouts that he doesn’t see the mighty acts of God reported from the past. The angel tells him, “Go with the strength you have and save Israel.” Gideon is incredulous since he feels insignificant. “I shall be with you,” the LORD said to him.” That is our story. When we are facing some trouble or difficulty and ask where God is the Lord says “go with the strength you have.” It might not seem like much to us but, since the Lord promises to be with us, we can do our bit to make this world look just a little bit more like the kingdom of heaven that God intends it to be.
