So many
people worry, especially in economically hard times, that their financial life
is falling apart and some unfortunately despair and take drastic measures to
relieve themselves of these burdens.
Yet our
Heavenly Father knows exactly what we are going through and has foreseen it
from the beginning of time. Not only does God know that bad times will come to
us, but he allows them to come. This has made some people question if God is
truly all good. Let me assure you that God is the greatest good and that all
goodness comes from God.
Let us
shed some light God’s goodness by looking at the worst sin ever committed – The
crucifixion of Jesus our Savior. Jesus, who is without sin before God and man,
lead a life of good works and innocence, oh yes and is the very creator and
sustainer of the universe – was tortured and put to death on our behalf so that
we – who crucified him with our sins – might go to heaven. We call that
terrible, tortuous day – Good Friday. Why? Because out of the worst sin in the
world came our salvation.
Now if
God can take the worst thing ever and transform it into something amazing,
don’t you think he can do the same for you on your worst day?
Listen
to what St. Paul says:
Romans 8:28 We know that all things work for good for those
who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
He says – for
those who love God, that is us – God makes all things work for good.
Like Joseph in the Old Testament
Now Joseph in
the Old Testament was hated by his brothers, threatened to be killed by them,
was sold into slavery, and then falsely accused of attacking the wife of his
boss, and put in prison. Now is anyone is having a rough time, it is Joseph.
Yet all of
this suffering leads ultimately to his exaltation to the right hand of Pharaoh,
and not only to the salvation of his family, but all of Egypt and beyond.
Now we can
imagine the range of emotions that he would have had throughout this ordeal,
but had he known where this would lead – meaning his exaltation, wouldn’t it be
possible to find even joy in all of his sufferings.
Shouldn’t we
who have faith in God’s goodness have this attitude?
Listen to what
he says to his brothers when he finally confronts them. The scene is in Egypt
and his brothers are before him and don’t recognize his, thinking he has died.
Joseph finally reveals himself and his brothers cower in fear thinking he is
going to exact his revenge on them, yet he says this:
Genesis 45:4 So Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to
me, I pray you." And they came near. And he said, "I am your brother,
Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with
yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve
life. For the famine has been
in the land these two years; and there are yet five years in which there will
be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you
a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God;
and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler
over all the land of Egypt.
Joseph is
close enough to God, that he sees God’s plan. Joseph says, “It was not you that
sent me here, but God.”
So by his
example, we see that we have cause to rejoice in our sufferings, because God
who loves us and desires heaven for us, wills all things in our lives to lead
us closer to Him even our sufferings.
Jesus also talks about God the Father’s
providence.
In the
sermon on the mount Jesus says this:
Matthew 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about
your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will
wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look
at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into
barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than
they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your
life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the
wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not
even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If
God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the
oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?'
or 'What are we to wear?' All these things the pagans seek. Your
heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the
kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you
besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of
itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.
Jesus
says – Everyone in the world worries about these things, and God knows about
it. But trust God, and seek first holiness and the gospel message and God will
provide for you not only for today, but for eternity.
Finally
though, we must use prudence in all things. I am reminded of the joke about the
man who prays to God to be saved from a flood; a boat comes by and those on
board exhort the man to get in the boat. The man says – no, no, God will save
me. Later he is in the second story window when another boat comes and offers
to rescue him and he responds – no, no – the Lord will save me. Into the
evening he is on his roof while the waves of the water lap higher and a
helicopter comes by and drops a ladder and those on board yell for him t0 climb
up. He yells up – no, no, God will save me – well the man drowns, goes to
heaven and meets God. He says – God why didn’t you save me? God says – I sent
you two boats and a helicopter.
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