“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered.  I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know.” Job: 42:2-3 

Who can know the mind of God?  Job is responding to God’s description of his ways that Job cannot understand in his suffering.

Some of the suffering that people experience is the result of their own choices, but sometimes people endure suffering like Job when their actions have not been the cause.  We look for explanations, but none are forthcoming other than we should trust in God.  We read about the saints of past centuries dealing with the same question.  Their response seems to be similar – trust in the omnipotence of God. 

When I was diagnosed with an advanced and aggressive form of prostate cancer, my wife read about Israel’s King Hezekiah who became ill to the point of death as he prayed for healing.  The Lord’s response was that “I will add fifteen years to your life.” (2 Kings 20:1-11) After surgery, hormone therapy, and radiation for recurrence a few years ago, it has now been 19 years since my initial treatment.  Thank you, Lord!

We praise you Lord, for the blessings and challenges in our lives, even though we don’t always know the “why?” 

Do you argue with God about the challenges in your life or trust in him?

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.” (Matthew 5:5)

Meekness is one of those words that is often misunderstood.  While a common understanding of the word may suggest weakness and lack of courage, Jesus’ use of the word in the Beatitudes is exactly the opposite.  He looks at meekness as inner strength in the face of adversity; not showing anger or discouragement when criticized. 

Jacques Philleppe in his book, The Eight Doors to the Kingdom, describes meekness as a divine quality, an attribute of the Holy Spirit’s action in us.  It is an inner strength that resists anger and passion.  It is being kind, tender and benevolent; remaining peaceful and confident. 

My first instinct to criticism is to be defensive, sometimes reacting with anger and emotion.  I have a good friend who serves on the board of a couple of non-profit organizations who has shown remarkable restraint in his quiet response to what has been unjustified criticism of his actions.  He is reflecting Jesus’ use of the word meekness in the Beatitudes.  He will surely inherit the kingdom of God.  In fact, he is living it in the way he acts. 

How do you react to criticism – with meekness of the Beatitudes or with anger and retaliation?

“Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear.” Luke 8:37)

Jesus had just delivered a man called Legion of many demons in the Gerasene region on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.  The man had apparently been possessed by many demons for a long time.  He lived among the tombs and even though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he would break the chains and do harm to himself and those around him.  Jesus cast out the demons and sent them into a herd of pigs that rushed down the hillside into the sea and drowned.

When the people from the town saw what had happened, instead of acting with wonder and praise of Jesus, they reacted with fear and asked him to leave.  Because of the presence of swine, they were not likely Jewish. 

While fear can serve to protect our safety, it is often a stumbling block to experiencing God’s action in our lives or our carrying out his will.  Scripture is full of God encouraging us not to be afraid.  Mary, Joseph, Zachariah, and the shepherds were told not to be afraid when  angels appeared to them.  Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1)   The first words of St. John Paul II after he was elected pope were “Be not afraid!” 

How often do we let fear get in the way of God’s desire for us – listening to a person needing to share a burden, speaking up in a business meeting against a questionable  practice, praying with a friend for healing of an illness,  lovingly confronting a child for misbehavior, helping an elderly neighbor with a household chore, etc.   

Do you let fear interfere with God’s presence and action in your lives?

“Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20)

Jesus sent out the “seventy-two” ahead of him to heal the sick and proclaim the kingdom of God.  The seventy-two returned rejoicing and exclaimed, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”  Jesus responded by telling them not to rejoice that spirits submit to them, but that they have a relationship with the Father and him. 

We tend to think in terms of doing and accomplishing rather than having been called by Jesus to be in relationship with him and the Father.  Jesus reminds the seventy-two and us not to rejoice in measuring our accomplishments for him, but rather that we have a relationship with God and him. 

For the last few years, I have been coordinating spiritual renewal programs at our parish involving the Alpha Program and the Rescue Project, both of which have a video series with talks and small group discussion serving to introduce people to the Christian message and to renew their Christian walk.  With each program I had to fight the tendency to dwell on how many people attended and were prayed with to experience the renewal of their faith, rather than just thank the Lord for the opportunity to serve him. 

Like the seventy-two, my tendency was to want to measure the “success” of our efforts rather than just rejoicing in the opportunity to work for the Lord and experience the relationship with him flowing from that work. 

Do you seek to measure the success of your work for the Lord, or are you satisfied with just knowing that you are working for him?