Ruminations of an Irascible Hermit.: Trusting in Divine Providence

Saturday, November 13, 2021

Trusting in Divine Providence - the patience of the Lord is salvation

This was the scripture verse for Morning Prayer in the Divine Office today.

We can often get frustrated, hurt, angry, upset and loose our peace of soul when witnessing all the injustice in the world. This is a challenge for all of us who care and especially for us as Christians. It can make us doubt our faith or the goodness of God.

But as Christians we also have the privilege of Divine Revelation given to us in scripture. What can often from our limited perspective look like allowing injustice or God “turning a blind eye” - can often be God giving time to situations or people to allow a greater good to come out of the evil (Romans 8:28). As it says below “consider the Lord’s patience is directed toward salvation”.

We believe in Divine Providence - that God is the Creator of Heaven & Earth, he knows everything that is happening and because God is a Good Father, he is Goodness itself. Therefore anything God allows will ultimately be revealed as having a greater purpose. This requires an act of faith in our part - to trust in God & leave it in his hands.

Ultimately God’s justice will prevail one day - on the great final day, the “Day of the Lord” - Judgement Day. On that day everything will be revealed and we will understand God’s plan of salvation. But in the meantime, while we wait for this we need to remain at peace with God. We need to continue to pray for ourselves and others, participate in the sacraments and read the Bible regularly so we understand what God has revealed to us. In this way we can remain in the hope that saves us (Romans 8:24) so we can at all times say with confidence- Jesus, I trust in you

Don’t lose hope, focus on working out your salvation in fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12) so that without stain or blemish we who seek after the Lord can rejoice in the midst of tribulation (Matt 5:12) as we find our joy in Him (Psalm 40:16)

No comments:

Disclaimer

Please note. I am a Catholic layman, not a qualified theologian or philosopher. What I say and write here are my own personal thoughts and ideas, although I always try to conform my writings to the Magisterium of the Church.

I- with firm faith believe and profess everything that is contained in the symbol of faith: namely,

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: By the power of the Holy Spirit, he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. I believe in the one holy catholic and apostolic church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

With firm faith I believe as well everything contained in God's word, written or handed down in tradition and proposed by the church--whether in solemn judgment or in the ordinary and universal Magisterium--as divinely revealed and called for faith.

I also firmly accept and hold each and every thing that is proposed by that same church definitively with regard to teaching concerning faith or morals.

What is more, I adhere with religious submission of will and intellect to the teachings which either the Roman pontiff or the college of bishops enunciate when they exercise the authentic Magisterium even if they proclaim those teachings in an act that is not definitive.