Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Jacob takes on the name Isreal, because, "(he) contended with divine and human beings
and (has) prevailed.” Jacob wrestled with God and most importantly, in the midst of the brawl, Jacob cries out, “I will not let you go until you bless me.” How often do we struggle with, even wrestle with God in our lives? Notice how in this thirty-second chapter of Genesis that Jacob is not punished for wrestling and getting mad at God. Rather, seemingly, he is commended, recognized as one who can content with the divine.
Life may bombard us with immense suffering, fling severe challenges and confusions at us, and leave us questioning God's motives or even presence in our lives. Rather than turning away from God in this despair or dismissing the presence of God in the midst of suffering, what our faith and the faith witnessed through Jacob's wrestling challenges us to is to hold all the tighter to God. Do not be afraid to confront God and ask, from the depth of your heart or the source of your pain and sorrow, "Why, God?... Why are you doing this? Why is this happening?" When asking, however, be willing to wait, wrestle, cling to, trust, listen for God's response. Precisely in the wrestling we can be opened to God's grace and respond as the people do in the Gospel: "The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” Do not be afraid of wrestling with God but be ready to hold on and not let go of God until you receive God's blessing. And this blessing always amazes.