Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ft. Lauderdale recently shared a reflection from the pastor on the principle of being prepared.

"People fear what they do not understand," the Rev. Monsignor Vincent Kelly said in the church's Nov. 8 bulletin. "Years ago, severe weather was not understood. People feared it— making gods of thunder, wind or the unpredictable sea. In our present century, we are no less buffeted by such severe weather, but we no longer worship the elements as did ancient peoples." 

We do not necessarily understand everything that we are exposed to in this world, but we can rest assured that there is not as much to fear as some may think. In his many miracles on this earth, the people who followed Jesus must have been worried about the fact that he was raising people from the dead and calming storms.

But Jesus, in fact, told us that we do not have to fear, so long as we are prepared. Life is unpredictable, but the reality is that whatever we go through, we can be calm knowing that the Lord is able to control the situation. Our job is to be as prepared as we can. 

"God is calling us at this moment of calm to establish the means of responding to inevitable challenges of great magnitude," Kelly said. "By prayer and reflection, we can condition ourselves to an awareness of the power of God working in our midst." 

If we find that we are not praying, spending time in the Word, participating in the sacraments and the like, we may soon realize that we are not prepared. 

"Somehow we must place ourselves in God's hands in total trust so that no matter what appears to happen, our ultimate goal of eternal salvation will be achieved," Fr. Kelly said.

Let us be certain to be prepared and trust in him for all things.