Our new year is well under way, and most are hoping its fresh winds will blow away all the pain that 2020 sent our way.  The lingering pandemic destroyed many events we all took for granted: spring graduations, family weddings, christenings, classroom schooling, and of course our summer vacations.  The unwanted pandemic even caused changes to our traditions for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Yes, indeed it has long overstayed its unwelcomed appearance.

The year 2020 rattled our faith and sapped our trust in God’s love and promises. Why?  Faith flows rapidly from our hearts and lips when our bills are paid and when food is plentiful.  It is readily found in reliable friends, when the family is healthy and well, and when the dark clouds of Covid 19 are far enough away to give us hope. When life’s needs are met, thanking God for his blessings rolls abundantly from our lips and from our hearts.

However, when life crashes, storm clouds roll in, and sadness shares our waking days, it becomes more difficult to recognize God’s ever-present blessings and love.  In fact, followers more readily blame Jesus for these endless difficulties rather than trust God’s promises and faithful love.

Of course, there are always exceptions.  For example, Bisbee, Arizona, a small former copper mining town, suffered the past year from a relentless drought filled summer.  Depending on summer vacationers for its annual budget, this tourist town saw its finances suffering greatly.

The parish church community of San Jose decided to do something to “end” the drought.  The parish announced a weekend of continuous prayer to their patron, Saint Joseph, for the single purpose of breaking the long-standing drought.  The townspeople were certain their constant communal prayers would bring them the much-needed rain.

Saturday morning dawned. Every person crowded into the parish church with overflow in the town square.  They carried personal items like rosaries, statues, flags, prayer-cards, missals, and hymnals. However, two parishioners reaped all the attention.  Anita, a ten-year old, and Paco, her 8-yearold brother.  The duo wore rain slickers and carried umbrellas.  Now that’s trusting in God’s power and love, isn’t it?

Most of the crowd, perhaps like us, carried an exhausted  faith and trust in Christ’s “saving works” to the prayer event.  Yet, Anita and Paco’s faith and trust stands out as a shining  example of true prayer.  They were prepared for a cloudburst they knew was sure to come.

Sharing their hopefulness, St. Joseph, two hours into the prayer service persuaded Jesus to open the heavens and drench Bisbee with the most rain it had seen in years. The excited and grateful parishioners carried Anita and Paco on their shoulders inside the church.  They attributed this miracle to their faith and never-failing trust in the Lord.

Whether it was or not, we know Jesus spent much of his ministry looking for strong faith that would move mountains. Perhaps Anita and Paco had exactly what Jesus looks for and decided to reward the whole community to show his joy.

 And so, he allowed Joseph to “rain” down his joy on Brisbee.  Is not this a good reminder to take with us as we travel the days of 2021: an endless belief and trust in Jesus’ words.