Our Hope Rests In God's Provision

 

 Begin with prayer to the Holy Spirit 

Readings: Romans 8:28-39

 

    St. Paul concludes this chapter with an affirmation to the reader by declaring that we can have hope in a God who loves us and has provided for us. His provision reaches back into time and proceeds forward into the future. This hope and love is guaranteed and sealed by the Spirit of God working in us and through us to intervene in our lives on each and every level. Paul undeniably confirms his previous assessment of the Spirit's intervention into our lives in this statement in vs. 28 when he emphasizes that constant intervention of hope and stability working consistently toward our overall good even through difficulty and apart from us. This truly brings to focus the concept of looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. (Heb.12:2) Therefore if we stay focused on Jesus he will work all thing to our good.  

 

    The grace of God working before, in, and through creation toward the Church, is clearly seen in this process of predestination. How His plan is carried out to fulfill every aspect of salvation and sanctification to the body of Christ. God's invitation toward us is made clear in this concept of predestination.  He says in the Gospel of John 6:44, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day." In this plan of God we are drawn/invited, known by God personally, and collectively as the Church of which He planned before creation to provide the means for our justification and glorification. This is accomplished through the provision of the virgin birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The obvious here is that with such a well thought out plan of provision for the justification and glorification of the Church it is highly impossible for anything to get in the way of it's fulfillment. The obvious answer is nothing short of ourselves and even that is extremely difficult, can separate us from the love of God.  

 

    One might say at this point you don't  live my life and face the battles that I face. Perhaps this is true but the One who is sitting at the right hand of God can completely identify with all of our battles. And in this identification He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities and consistently is looking out for us and interceding to the Father on our behalf. And if that is not enough we are encompassed about with a cloud of witnesses Heb.12:1 who have walk this life before us and who are cheering us on. Just pick one of your favorite Saints and they will soon be running to Jesus on your behalf. When we consider the entire Godhead working for our best interest and that we have been created in His image and all the foreknowledge and predestination that is embedded in that, it is difficult to separate yourself from God or have anything else separate you from God.  St. Paul's list of possible means of separation cover many of the pitfalls and powers in our everyday life and even beyond this planet that some people believe affects on our existence none of these forces or difficulties have the authority to step over the line that is blood line of God's intervention on our behalf. All the sins and obstacles that could possibly separate us from God are no match for what God has done for us through the love of Jesus.        

                                                                                                            

Quotation for Meditation

Refuge from the Icy Blast

 

You and I should take refuge in God's love for us from the icy blast of self-hate. Repeatedly we must remind ourselves that God has first loved us. It is extremely important for our growth to be deeply aware that God loves us. We should also be messengers of God's love to those who hate themselves. There are many people around who are filled with self-hate because they are unaware of God's love.

 

If I tried to link the struggle for mental health with the struggle for holiness, I would say it is most clearly seen in the terrible battle against self-hate in the depths of the soul. Once the chain of self-hate is broken, the individual becomes free to love others, to be generous, to escape from his own darkness. This is part of the mystery of God's love. God has first loved us; let us begin now to love him.

 

Quiet Moments with Benedict Groeschel, 120 Daily readings, Servant books, St. Anthony Messenger Press, Cincinnati, Ohio, pg. 65.

 

 

Quiet Time and Then Discussion

 

Questions for Meditation

  

1. Discuss the Lord's provision for the Church. 

2. How does God work on our behalf through difficulties, and at times when we can't help ourselves? 

3. Discuss how we can stop God's plan for our life. 

 

Prayer 

 

Come , O blessed Spirit of fortitude, uphold my soul in time of trouble and adversity, sustain my efforts for holiness, strengthen my weakness, give  me courage against all the assaults of my enemies, that  I may never be overcome and separated from you, my God and greatest good. Amen.

 

My Favorite Prayers and Novenas,  General Editor Marianne Lorraine Trouve, FSP.,Pauline Books and Media, Boston, Pg.74-75