An Important Reminder On This 15th Sunday after Pentecost

The 15th Sunday of Pentecost brings and important reminder. It's something most if not all of us learned years ago when we first began to learn about our Catholic Religion. On a personal note, it stuck with me even when I preferred it weren't true: God runs the show.

Now why would anyone push back against this awesome truth? Well, let's consider a couple of reasons.

Let's say we just completed a big, no make that HUGE project at work that not only accomplished its goals, but did so with flying colors. We got high fives, maybe even a raise or promotion. And we sure deserved it, right? All that time and hard work; all that persistence in the face of obstacles; all those creative juices that flowed to make the project so much better than expected: all added up to notable success. And all because of us!

Or was it?

Well, the things is, God ran that show from start to finish. Sure we put in the effort. And we wouldn't have succeeded as we did without that effort. But in the end, our result - as with everything that happens in this world, ultimately occurred because it was God's Will. Period.

Or let's say one of our adult children decides to tell us something good that happened to them, and ascribes it to something we taught them either by word or example when they were growing up. They give us the credit. (Older parents: This can happen!) Feels good, doesn't it? And there's nothing wrong with that feeling. It's just that if we're completely honest with ourselves, we have to admit that somewhere along the line God was behind the whole thing. For example, maybe the Holy Spirit steered us in the direction of imparting some legitimate wisdom into the head and heart of our grateful progeny.

If it seems to take away some luster from the gold star you thought you deserved, get over it. Gold stars might be a motivator for a child who just kept his coloring or penmanship inside the lines. But they're not needed for us mature Catholic men - at work, at home, or at play. We know all happens according to God's Will. That knowledge brings us a sense of satisfaction and peace. Satisfaction because we're glad we finally learned how things really work in this world; peace because we know that the world in which we live (for now) can never be a weight on our shoulders. The weight is borne by God.

Now let's turn all this over to one of our solid Catholic spiritual guides. This abbot will expand on what we've just discussed and does so in a very thorough, human, and very touching manner. If you've never fully appreciated the fact that God rules the universe - what it means and why it's so central to our lives - perhaps this will help:

Abbot Vital Lehodey writes: “Whilst ruling the stars and presiding over the revolutions of the earth, He concurs with the ants in their labors, with the insects in their least movements, and with the countless millions of atoms constituting a single drop of water in their invisible activities. Without Him not a leaf can stir, not a blade of grass die, not a grain of sand be moved about by the wind. He keeps a solicitous watch over the birds of the air, over the lilies of the field; and as each of us is worth more than many birds, He does not forget His human children. A thousand details of daily life will escape the notice of the father of the family and the most attentive of mothers; but God in His infinite intelligence possesses the secret of providing without effort for the most trivial incidents as well as for the most important events. Yes, He has numbered the very hairs of our heads; not one of them can fall without the permission of our heavenly Father. And what can seem so insignificant as the fall of a single hair? Nevertheless, God thinks of it…And thus I, an insignificant atom in the great world, occupy day and night, always and everywhere, the mind and the heart of my Father in Heaven. Oh, how infinitely touching is this truth of our holy faith, how touching and how consoling!”

Once more for the purpose of sustaining our Sunday respite from daily toil in a manner that can carry over into the coming week - and beyond:

I, an insignificant atom in the great world, occupy day and night, always and everywhere, the mind and the heart of my Father in Heaven.

Happy Sunday!