Sooner or later, we all come to the conclusion that we are weak. In infancy, we begin life with years of utter dependence on others. As we grow up and become stronger, sickness, failure, sin, and the deaths of others serve as constant reminders of our human weakness, lest we forget our dependence on God. Finally, old age picks up where childhood left off. We progressively become weaker and more dependent on others.

Our human weakness is a serious problem for us. We cope with this by crying out for help. Babies cry to their parents. Later, these parents who have grown old cry out to their babies who have grown up. In our weakness, we depend on each other. Most of all, we depend on the only perfectly dependable One, that is, God. Thus, our human weakness isn't so much of a problem.

Sometimes, however, we feel "home alone," cut off from others and even from God. We feel panic as if we are trapped in our human weakness. However, these feelings of isolation and doom are unfounded. We are never cut off from God, because we can always approach God the Father through Jesus (Heb 7:25). He has torn open forever the veil which had separated us from the holy of holies of His presence (see Mt 27:51; Heb 10:19). In our weakness, God's power can always reach perfection (see 2 Cor 12:9). We need not fear isolation. We are never alone (see Jn 16:32; Mt 28:20).

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 27, 2012

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