The Gospel reading from yesterday:
Jesus said to his disciples: “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to offer him,’ and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves because of their friendship, he will get up to give him whatever he needs because of his persistence. “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish?Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”
Two things struck me as I listened to this. The first was my shock in hearing the last sentence - "how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?" Why does Jesus throw this in there? He's just been saying that those who ask and seek diligently will receive. But then, like the turn at the end of a sonnet, he adds "you will receive the Holy Spirit." "But," one might say, "I wasn't asking for the Holy Spirit. I was asking for x." Father Tony explained that God does give good gifts to us - it just may not be exactly what we were asking for. And for those who are earnestly seeking, He will give the gift of the Holy Spirit to discern (or at least accept) the gift that Got is giving. The gift that is the Holy spirit is the gift of discernment, understanding, peace, gratitude.
The second thing I realized was that our current state of infertility is not a snake; it's a fish. I need eyes to see and a heart to understand - but the REALITY and TRUTH is that our not being able to conceive is a good gift from God.
(The thought of God handing me a fish makes me laugh. "Here you go - have a fish." "A fish? I didn't ask for a fish, I asked for a baby." "Yes, I know you asked for a baby, but I am giving you a fish." "hmmm, OK. A fish. Thanks. What do I do with a fish?" - I guess I'll have to figure it out :)
1 comment:
yeah, it's the double whammy of not getting what you asked for and also receiving something you don't know what to do with. But don't waste your fish. If you have eyes to see, and if you allow it, the fish will be good in ways you never imagined!
Encouraging, thoughtful post. Thanks! Also, thank you for the package which came yesterday. :) You MADE Grace's day. And mine also. Let's send each other more boxes. :)
Post a Comment