It is God's Mission

Homily for Friday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time

Elijah had been doing rather well in his mission of calling people back to the God of Israel, but along the way he made some enemies. One of those enemies proved to be particularly formidable – Jezebel. So today we find him running away from the mission. Somehow he has gotten into his head that the success of his mission was his own doing. So he runs into the desert where he learns from God that he is not in charge as a bean plant of which he was fond shriveled and dried. So goes to Horeb, the mountain on which God lives. There he meets God in an unexpected way. Once again God is showing him that the mission is not about his expectations. The mission is God’s doing.

There is a short poem from a story about a butterfly that illustrates how God acts and how God is not what we expect. The poem is about our prayers.

I asked for Strength.........

And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for Wisdom.........

And God gave me Problems to solve.

I asked for Prosperity.........

And God gave me Brain and amp; Brawn to work.

I asked for Courage.........

And God gave me Danger to overcome.

I asked for Love.........

And God gave me troubled people to help.

I asked for Favors.........

And God gave me Opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted;

I received everything I needed.

Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator