Perhaps we can best imagine Jesus' broken heart when we imagine children going astray. Not every parent has experienced that tragedy personally, but most people know some parents who have. If we have not seen children go astray, we have probably seen some of them make bad decisions. We may want desperately to protect children from harm, but we realize that we cannot prevent young people from making mistakes. We can offer them advice and protection, but we cannot force them to accept it. At some point, they must stretch their wings and try to fly. We ache when they stumble. Our hearts break when they fall. Most of us face lesser, more subtle dangers.

How willing are we to shelter ourselves under the wings of the Almighty? We certainly cherish such shelter when danger threatens, when our world is coming unglued, when our wild oats threaten to bear fruit. In times like that, we kneel and pray for help. In more normal times, however, we go where we want to and do what we want to and may resent those who would remind us of our need for God.

Today's readings tell us that God longs to help us survive all dangers. They tell us that God's help is available to us.