Sometimes we feel like despairing because life seems to make no sense. We wonder if God is there or if He knows what He's doing. NevertFcheless, despite severe disruptions due to our sins, the Lord has everything under control. For instance, He knows that large numbers of Jewish people will be saved after the full number of Gentiles has entered into God's kingdom (Rm 11:25-26). This will mean "riches for the Gentile world" (Rm 11:12). These may be spiritual riches in that the Church will grow rich in love, faith, and holiness. Thus, the Lord will "present to Himself a glorious Church, holy and immaculate, without stain or wrinkle or anything of that sort" (Eph 5:27). These will be some of the developments prior to Jesus' final coming.
The Lord points out all this to assure us that He knows what is going on and what will go on. The Lord has a wonderful plan; despite our sins, His plan will be fulfilled in detail. Therefore, we should not despair when we see tragedies. The Lord is bigger than all our problems. He loves us, and nothing can stop Him from showing His love to us.
Let us repent, fix our eyes on Jesus, and believe that His plan will be fulfilled no matter how many people try to disrupt it. He is Lord, and He is Love (1 Jn 4:16).
| PRAYER: | Father, because of my faith in Your providence may I rejoice always (see Phil 4:4). |
| PROMISE: | "For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled and he who humbles himself shall be exalted." –Lk 14:11 |
| PRAISE: | The Smiths rejoiced when they saw God's hand in the buying and selling of houses that allowed them to be involved with Christian community. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College