Friday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
When I was studying for my master's degree in theology, my friends and I had a running joke about the idea of providence: "What is providence? Well, providence can be broken into two words: "Provi" and "Dence". What do they mean? I don't know and that's why providence is a mystery."
Providence really is the mysterious presence of God active in our lives. Providence can take us by surprise, but it always asks us for a response of faith - faith that God is acting in our lives.
Today's scriptures show the power of God's providence for me. In the first reading (Genesis 23:1-4, 19; 24:1-8, 62-67), we begin with Sarah's death at the old age of 127. But Isaac would only have been 18, a fairly young age to lose a parent, especially on the cusp of adulthood as he is. Sarah's death makes Abraham particularly aware of his own vulnerability and so he seeks to give Isaac some stability in the world through family. He would like for his son to have a wife from among Abraham's own people, rather than among the Canaanites in the land where they live. Abraham's wish for a wife for his son presents a dilemma, however, since Canaan is the promised land and he does not want to turn his son away from God's promise by sending him back to his family. So he sends his servant, who will help Isaac find a wife quickly.
If you read some of the missing verses, you'll see that the servant found Rachel through a chance (providential!) meeting at the well. Rachel also immediately (providentially?) accepts the offer to meet Isaac and in so doing she displays a great deal of faith. This leads to Isaac's marriage, which provides him "solace" after his mother's death. Rachel's response is important, for while God's providence and presence is always there, it doesn't work quite well without also there being people to accept and act in faith.
The gospel (Matthew 9:9-13) demonstrates a similar case of providence and faith. Jesus calls Matthew and he leaves and follows, no questions asked (at least not by Matthew). Others will see Matthew and other tax collectors (who are even less popular in their day than in ours) and wonder why a holy man like Jesus would bother to sit with tax collectors. That is providence, too - the great mystery of the fact that Jesus, God made human, comes to us to offer mercy, and we are asked to respond in faith.
As I have been working to prepare a new classroom for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (for our 6-9 year olds) I have been struck again and again by God's providence and by the faithful response of so many in the parish. When I moved to Dayton five years ago, I wasn't expecting that I'd be starting the program, nor that there would be people interested in keeping it going. And I've been amazed again and again at all the times when I, or someone else, has said: "We need this..." and it has been taken care of.
Where do you see God's providence in your life? Where is God calling you to make a response in faith?
- Jana M. Bennett