Trusting in God's Plan

Homily for Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Joseph displays great confidence in God when he says to his brothers: “I am your brother Joseph, whom you once sold into Egypt. But now do not be distressed, and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you." As I sat with this statement while I was preparing this homily, I must admit that it would be so much easier if I knew what God had in mind whenever difficulties arise in my life. We have all known difficulties through the years - health problems, spiritual anxiety, and a host of other unforeseen events. Some of us, myself included, have lost a parent when you were young. It has been sixty-nine years since my father died, and I still wonder what life would have been like if he had lived until I had reached adulthood. Perhaps you struggled in school. Most of us here have experienced different health issues and still bear the burden of those issues. I can honestly say that nothing in my lifetime has been as difficult as Joseph’s life must have been. However, it is clear that God had a purpose for placing him in Egypt as a slave.

Jesus counsels his apostles to take nothing for their journey. They are to place themselves completely in the providential care of God. Not only are they to take nothing with them on this journey, it is also clear that they are not to accumulate anything on their travels. They are even to shake off the dust on their feet if they are not received hospitably by someone as they make their way on this mission. If someone does receive them, they are not to accept another offer even if it seems that they would be more comfortable if they did so.

The only way that we can place ourselves completely in God’s care is through trust that God has a purpose in our lives just as he had a purpose in the life of Joseph. Of course, there are other characters in the Scriptures who demonstrate this kind of trust, particularly our Blessed Mother when God asks her to be the mother of Jesus. Let us pray that we can be as trusting in our relationship with God.