Loving the will of God.  God has the best possible plans for each man.  Serenity in the face of contradictions.

Everything, even the smallest object in the universe, exists because God keeps it in being.  He covers the heavens with clouds, he prepares rain for the earth, he makes grass grow upon the hills.  He gives to the beasts their food, and to the young ravens that cry.[1]  The entire creation is the work of God, and He lovingly takes care of all his creatures, beginning by keeping them all in existence.  This ‘maintaining’ is, in a certain sense, a continual creation.[2]  The same care and providence is extended in a particular way to man, the object of God’s predilection.

Jesus Christ makes known to us constantly that God is our Father, and that he wants the best for his children.  The very best we could imagine, for ourselves and for those who love best, falls far short of the divine plans.  Our Father God knows very well what we need, and his all-seeing gaze takes in both this life and eternity; our sight is short and very defective, our view limited.  It is in accord with reason that happiness and sanctity consist essentially in knowing, loving and carrying out the Will of God, which is manifested to us in different ways, but with sufficient clarity, throughout life.  In the Gospels the Lord makes us a recommendation so that our days may be filled with peace:…do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on.  Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.[3] Here we have an invitation to live with cheerful hope in the carrying-out of our daily duties.  It is logical that we shall meet with setbacks, anxieties and laborious difficulties, but we should bear them as God’s

children, without useless worry, or any spirit of rebellion or sadness, because we know that Our Lord allows these things to happen – this illness, that apparent disaster – to purify us, to convert us into

co-redeemers with him.  The sufferings and contradictions should serve to refine us as precious metals are refined, to help us grow in virtue and love God more…Have you not heard the Master himself tell you the parable of the vine and the branches?  Here you can find consolation.  He demands much of you, for you are the branch that bears fruit.  And he must prune you to make you bear more fruit.  Of course: that cutting, that pruning hurts.  But, afterwards, what richness in your fruit, what maturity in your actions.[4] Let us not be disconcerted when we encounter the contretemps of the divine plans; God is well aware of what He is about, and what He is permitting to happen.

Let us take a good look at ourselves today, to see if we are accepting reverses, disappointments or apparent failures with equanimity; whether we are resentful or, no matter how briefly, giving rein to gloomy thoughts or rebelliousness.  Let us see, side by side with our Lord, whether our physical or moral weaknesses are not truly capable of drawing us towards our Father God, and of making us more humble. Do not be anxious about your life…Our Lord tells us once more.

Abandonment in God and responsibility

Very often we do not know what is good for us; and what confuses matters more is that we think we do.  We have our own plans for our happiness, and too often we look upon God as someone who will help us to carry them out.  The true state of affairs is invariably the reverse of this.  God has his own perfect plans for our happiness, and is waiting for us to help him carry them out.  And yet let it be clear that we can in no way improve on God’s plans.[5]  Being possessed of a thoroughly practical certainty concerning these truths, and living them day by day, leads to serene abandonment even when we are faced with some seemingly insurmountable obstacle which we cannot understand and that causes us grief and frustration.  Nothing falls apart, there is no disastrous collapse if we are supported by our sense of divine filiation: But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you…?[6]

It sometimes happens, Saint Thomas says, that when an observer not proficient in medical sciences sees a doctor prescribe water for one sick man and wine for another, he thinks in his ignorance that the prescription is as random as the tossing of a coin.  And so it happens with God.  He, knowing the causes of things and according to his providence, in his Wisdom disposes whatever it is that men need: he afflicts some who are perhaps good and allows others who are bad to live in prosperity.[7]  We can never forget that God wants us to be happy here, but He wants us to be still happier forever with him in Heaven.

Sanctity consists in the loving fulfillment of the Will of God, which is manifested in the duties of each day in one’s own circumstances.  Knowing that his loving attention and his divine providence embraces the minutest detail of our lives, we can abandon ourselves in God with complete trust.  But this abandonment has to be active and responsible, with our applying the means that each situation demands: it may be going to the doctor when we are sick; it may be taking all the preliminary steps necessary to obtain that job we need so much and for which we have prayed to God; it may be working hard to make progress in our studies or our chosen profession, putting in the hours necessary to get through that difficult examination or achieve that required qualification…  Abandonment in God has to be closely united with responsibility, which leads us to use the most opportune human means, for on many occasions what is disguised as ‘bad luck’, adverse circumstances etc., is nothing but hidden mediocrity, indolence or imprudence in not employing the precise means that a situation has called for.  When work is done conscientiously, with order, (systematically and methodically), when it is properly finished off, when it has been sanctified like constant apostolate done with a spirit of sacrifice, it bears fruit in due course.  And if this fruit takes its time in coming, it is a sign that God will produce it by means we have not suspected, and that He wants us to sanctify ourselves in precisely these circumstances.

Omnia in bonum – for those who love God, everything works out in the best possible way.

Our awareness of our divine filiation helps us to discover that all the happenings of our life are directed or permitted for our good by the most lovable Will of God.  He who is our Father grants us what is best for us, and expects us to see his paternal love as much in adverse occurrences as in those more favourable events that are to our liking.[8]

As Saint Paul says: for those who love God, all things work together unto the good.[9]  He who loves God and shows his love with deeds knows that, come what may, everything is for the best, provided one does not stop loving.  And precisely because he loves, he uses the means, so that the result will be good, so that the finished work, carried out with rectitude of intention, will bear fruit of sanctity and apostolate.  And once he has used the means available to him, he abandons himself in God and rests in his loving providence.  Take note, Saint Bernard says, he does not say that things serve for caprice, but for usefulness; not for pleasure, but for salvation; not for our desire but for our advantage.  In this sense, all things work for our good, even death itself, even sin itself…For do not sins work towards the good of him who through them becomes more humble, more fervent, more solicitous, more cautious, more prudent?[10]  After using the means within our reach, or in matters over which we have no control, we will say in the intimacy of our heart: Omnia in bonum, all is for good.

With this conviction, fruit of divine filiation, we will live full of optimism and hope and so overcome many difficulties. It looks as if the whole world is coming down on the top of you.  Whichever way you turn you find no way out.  This time, it is impossible to overcome the difficulties.  But, have you again forgotten that God is your father?  All-powerful, infinitely wise, full of mercy.  He would never send you anything that is evil.  That thing that is worrying you, it’s good for you, even though those earthbound eyes of yours may not be able to see it now.  ‘Omnia in bonum!’ Lord, once again and always, may your most wise Will be done.[11]  Omnia in bonum!  All is for good.  We can turn everything into something pleasing to God and for the good of the soul.  This expression of Saint Paul’s can serve as an aspiration or a short prayer which will give us peace in difficult moments.

The most holy Virgin, Our Mother, will teach us how to live trustfully and with confidence in God’s omnipotence, if we have recourse to her frequently each day.  In the most Sweet Heart of Mary we never fail to find peace, consolation and joy.

[1] Ps 147:8-9

[2] John Paul II, General Audience, 29 January 1986

[3] Matt 6:25-26

[4] J. Escrivá, The Way, 701

[5] E. Boylan, This Tremendous Lover

[6] Matt 6:30

[7] St Thomas, About the Creed

[8] Cf The Navarre Bible, note to Rom 8:28

[9] Rom 8:28

[10] St Bernard, On the brevity of life, 6

[11] J. Escrivá, The Way of the Cross, Ninth Station, 4

By Francisco Fernandez, In Conversation with God, New York, Scepter, 1990, Volume 3, pp. 622-627
Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash