“God is telling us what we need – and it’s something money can’t buy.”

By Joe Chiaramonte

“Ho, everyone who thirsts,

            come to the waters;

            and you that have no money,

            come, buy and eat!

            Come, buy wine and milk

            without money and without price.

 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

            and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

            Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,

            and delight yourselves in rich food.”

Isaiah 55:1-2 

saiah seems to want to tell us that we have choices, that we have opportunities to be satisfied if we will but listen. What’s that old saying … money can’t buy you happiness? Why is it so hard to grasp this important message in this day and age? 

Are we presented every day with ways we could choose to do something for ourselves in a non-monetary way? Do we see “important” things we think we need and want, but in reality are just window dressing? Do we pass up opportunities to show we are Christians by our example, making excuses for lack of time and energy? Maybe we need to change our views and look through a different set of lenses. 

Lent gives us the opportunity to step back, reflect, listen to God’s word … and then make a decision to do something good for others and, yes, maybe for ourselves as well. Lent allows us to take the time to become closer to God, to re-acquaint ourselves with the goodness, mercy and love He always has had for us. As we pray, reflect and spend time with God, He will give us the strength to show others just how good our God is. He invites us, through Isaiah, to “eat what is good, and delight in His rich food,” to listen to His words and realize God is telling us He has what we need – and it’s something money can’t buy. It is His undying and unconditional love for us today and throughout eternity.

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Father, you want us to know your undying love for us, and all too often we are too busy to even think of its availability. Your words tell us how you desire to make us rich with your graces, but we forget to make time to talk to you and listen to you. Help us now, during this Lenten time, to refresh ourselves in your mercy and love, and understand that you are there always … at our side.